Predators Tap Analytics Expert Hayden Speak to Lead New Research Initiative
On August 27, 2026, the Nashville Predators formally named Hayden Speak as their new Director of Research and Development, tasking him with expanding the club’s analytical footprint across every level of the organization.
Speak arrives after a decade of immersion in elite hockey analytics, most recently with the Los Angeles Kings where he progressed from analyst to senior analyst of amateur analytics and finally manager of research and development.
Prior to his NHL stint, Speak served as lead hockey researcher for the Ontario Hockey League’s Mississauga Steelheads from 2016 through 2019, a period in which he honed models that evaluated player performance and team dynamics.
His academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Central Florida, an MBA from UMass Lowell, and a master’s degree in computer science from Georgia Tech, a combination that blends technical depth with strategic business insight.
Speak will be responsible for crafting research models that assess teams and players across the NHL, AHL, ECHL and junior circuits, as well as for engineering tools that feed directly into the coaching staff’s game‑preparation workflow.
Chris MacFarland, Predators President of Hockey Operations, highlighted Speak’s blend of NHL experience and analytical innovation, stating that his appointment marks a decisive step toward a more data‑centric approach to roster construction and in‑game strategy.
The organization’s hockey analytics department is slated to grow in tandem with Speak’s arrival, a move designed to embed sophisticated data‑driven decision‑making into everything from player scouting to injury prevention.