Recent draft picks, other youthful additions will face similar squads from Washington, Tampa Bay in Florida

Nashville Predators prospects won’t have to wait to convince franchise officials they are gamers.

They will participate in the 2018 NHL Prospects Showcase, a three-team tournament in Estero, Florida. The event kicks off Sept. 8, two days after Nashville’s prospects report for the start of rookie camp.

The Predators’ youngsters will play three games in four days, against Washington on Sept. 8 (noon, CDT) and Sept. 11 (10:30 a.m.), and against Tampa Bay on Sept. 9 (noon).

Nashville’s roster is expected to include 2017 first-round pick Eeli Tolvanen (pictured), 2015 second-round pick Yakov Trenin and 2016 third-round pick Frederic Allard.

After that, the youngsters will return to Nashville for the full training camp, which is set to start Sept. 13. The preseason opener is a doubleheader, Sept. 17 at Florida.