The Nashville Predators announced Wednesday that the club has signed right winger Cole O’Hara to a two-year, entry-level contract that is set to begin in the 2025-26 season. As part of the agreement, O’Hara will join the AHL affiliated Milwaukee Admirals for the balance of the current campaign.

O’Hara was originally chosen by the Predators in the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Draft.

Through 40 appearances this season with the NCAA’s UMass Minutemen, O’Hara led the team in all major offensive categories counting 22 goals, 29 assists, and 51 points coupled with 14 penalty minutes and a plus-21 rating. For his efforts, O’Hara was named to Hockey East’s First All-Star Team and earned a nomination for the Hobey Baker Award, presented annually to the top college hockey player. In all, O’Hara spent three seasons with the Minutemen in which he totaled 33 goals and 53 assists for 86 points through 109 career contests.

Prior to committing to the Minutemen, O’Hara played two seasons with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm from 2020-22. O’Hara’s time with the Storm was highlighted by his second season where through 58 appearances he finished third in team scoring with 73 points counting 25 goals and 48 assists. In all, through 107 career contests with Tri-City, O’Hara combined for 36 goals and 65 assists for 101 points.

The 22-year-old Toronto native also previously skated two seasons with the OJHL’s North York Rangers from 2018-20. In his second season, O’Hara tied for the team lead in scoring after posting 21 goals and 43 assists for 64 points in 51 outings. Through two seasons with the Rangers, O’Hara amassed 106 points counting 32 goals and 74 assists.

O’Hara is the third player to land an entry-level contract with the Predators in the recent weeks following Kingston Frontenacs forward Joey Willis as well as fellow forward Matthew Wood of the Minnesota Golden Gophers.