Predators’ Nicolas Hague out week-to-week with lower-body injury

Not the best news for a veteran blueliner.

The Nashville Predators announced that defenseman Nicolas Hague is going to miss Saturday’s game against the Utah Mammoth with a lower-body injury and is considered week-to-week.

The Predators didn’t state what exactly is ailing Hague or when he was hurt. In the team’s 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, the 27-year-old took his last shift near the halfway mark of the second period, but didn’t return after that. He registered 10:54 of ice time across 13 shifts, putting a shot on goal, blocking a shot, delivering a hit, and leaving the contest with a plus/minus of -1.

Hague has missed a handful of games already this season. An upper-body injury suffered during the preseason led to him being held out of the lineup for the first few weeks of the year. He was also out of action for Nashville’s Jan. 13 meeting with the Edmonton Oilers due to an illness.

In 41 games, the Kitchener, Ont. native has scored two goals and nine assists for 11 points, last finding the back of the net on Jan. 3 against the Calgary Flames. He’s currently on pace to surpass his career high of 17 points, which he’s reached twice in his NHL career. Hague also has a -11 rating while averaging 19:20 of ice time.

Hague was acquired by the Predators from the Vegas Golden Knights prior to free agency opening on July 1. The deal was for Hague’s signing rights, as he went on to sign a four-year contract extension with Nashville. The new deal carries an AAV of $5.5 million through the 2028-29 season.

The Predators (24-22-4) are fifth in the Central Division, five points back of the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.