Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/GM David Poile announced today that the team has signed forward Luke Evangelista to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Evangelista was Nashville’s second choice in the 2020 NHL Draft, selected in the second round at No. 42 overall. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound right wing played in 62 games for the OHL’s London Knights in 2019-20, tallying 61 points (23g-38a) – 57 of which came at even-strength – and six game-winning goals, the second-most on his team. Compared to his rookie OHL campaign in 2018-19 (two assists in 27 games), he posted a 59-point improvement and was a key contributor to London’s league-leading penalty kill, chipping in two points (1g-1a) to a unit that operated at an 83.8 percent success rate, tops in the league.

Internationally, the Oakville, Ont., native competed for Canada White at the 2018 U-17 World Hockey Challenge, where he picked up an assist in five games. Evangelista, who is expected to skate in his third season for London in 2020-21, is second cousins with two-time Stanley Cup champion and Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan.