The Nashville Predators are today’s focus in the NHL prospect pool overview series.
Tony Ferrari digs into the Predators’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with few exceptions.
Initial Thoughts
It’s tough to figure out what the Predators are trying to be right now.
The team is trying to compete after a poor season, but the Preds also made three first-round picks to bolster their pipeline.
GM Barry Trotz said he wants to see if the veteran group can bounce back. Adding prospects to the pipeline, at the very least, gives Nashville a chance to come out of what could be a disaster with a head start on the rebuild.
Matthew Wood is one of the top prospects in the system for Nashville, signing his entry-level contract after three solid seasons in the NCAA. He dealt with some ups and downs in college but ultimately finished fairly strong.
Wood got into six NHL games, and he will likely be in the lineup to start the season. His finishing ability and size are the assets the Preds want him to showcase. Wood isn’t the fleetest of foot, and he doesn’t drive a line, but as a complementary offensive weapon, Wood has the tools to be a very effective winger.
The Predators have waited for Joakim Kemell to break through and force his way into the NHL lineup, but it hasn’t happened just yet. The 21-year-old Finn has always been praised for his lethal shooting ability. Kemell can throw some of his weight around at times as well. Unfortunately, Kemell has poor habits when it comes to shooting location. His two full AHL seasons have been fairly steady, putting up 41 and 40 points, but he hasn’t looked dominant or threatening as a goal-scorer quite yet.
Teddy Stiga was one of the best value picks of the 2024 NHL draft. Although he is a bit on the smaller side at just 5-foot-10, his freshman season in the NCAA proved the Preds may have found a very important piece for the future.
Stiga is relentless in all facets of the game, consistently working to get pucks back by getting in on attacks or chasing down loose pucks into the corners. Offensively, he helps drive his line’s success by providing his linemates with a hard-working, skilled player to work with. Stiga wasn’t given much run with Boston College’s top players last year, but he still managed to put up 30 points in 36 games. This upcoming year, he could be reunited with USA Hockey National Team Development Program teammate James Hagens on the top line, and the duo could tear up the NCAA.
The Preds love players with a blend of skill and physicality, and Egor Surin brings that in spades. He can crush a player along the wall or below the goal line, pick up the puck and deke a defender on his way to the net. Surin had a good year in the KHL, and he has two more years on his contract in Russia. Altering speed and learning to play a bit more refined defensive hockey will be a big step for the entertaining Russian.
Kalan Lind is a wrecking ball, constantly looking to inflict pain on defenders whenever he’s hunting them down on the forecheck. Lind is the kind of player that teams value for his playoff impact when the rules become more relaxed and the game gets heavier. He’s never going to be a big scorer at the NHL level, but he could play a very steady depth role and break out in the post-season. He has some good playmaking ability at times, but his on-puck game has plenty of room for growth.
Although he’s been traded twice now, David Edstrom is a very good player. It’s why he went from Vegas to San Jose in the Tomas Hertl trade, and it’s why Nashville wanted him in the trade that sent Yaroslav Askarov to the Sharks.
Edstrom is a big, mobile, reliable center who plays the game the way coaches want. He’s got solid two-way utility and connects plays well as a passer. After a couple of seasons in the Swedish League, he’ll play in the AHL after getting a taste in the playoffs.
The Predators have been enamored with the development and play of Tanner Molendyk over the last couple of years, but they’ve been patient in not rushing him into the NHL. He finished his junior career with a WHL championship before falling in the Memorial Cup final, but he did a great job in using his mobility and intelligence to dictate play from the back end. He will likely join the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals this season, and it wouldn’t shock anyone if he gets off to a solid start and finds himself in the NHL at some point.
U-23 Players Likely to Play NHL Games This Season
Zachary L’Heureux (LW), Fedor Svechkov (C)
2025 NHL Draft Class
Round 1, 5th overall - Brady Martin, C, S.S. Marie (OHL)
Round 1, 21st overall - Cameron Reid, D, Kitchener (OHL)
Round 1, 26th overall - Ryker Lee, RW, Madison (USHL)
Round 2, 35th overall - Jacob Rombach, D, Lincoln (USHL)
Round 2, 58th overall - Jack Ivankovic, G, Brampton (OHL)
Round 4, 122nd overall - Alex Huang, D, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
Round 6, 163rd overall - Daniel Nieminen, D, Pelicans (Fin.)
The Nashville Predators had the opportunity to alter their future with three first-round picks and five picks in the top 60. They opted for a mix of safe picks and risky selections. Only time will tell if the 2025 NHL draft class will have the effect that Preds fans and management hope it can.
With the fifth pick, the Predators sought a player who would bring physicality, drive and an endless motor. Those are the reasons Trotz gave for taking Brady Martin in the top five. Martin is a missile on the ice, constantly looking to throw his weight around and level opponents along the boards.
Martin may not have quite the offensive upside of some of the other players available, but he is nearly a surefire bet to be a solid NHLer. His offensive game isn’t anything to shy away from, either. He can bang and crash, cleaning up garbage around the net. He also has a solid shot from the slot. Martin creates offense through his physical play, winning battles on the boards or turning pucks over on the forecheck. Martin may not be a No. 1 center, but he should be an effective player nonetheless.
At 21st overall, the Predators took a swing on one of the most intriguing defenseman in the draft, Cameron Reid. He’s a high-level skater who loves to attack up ice and join the rush. In the offensive zone, his mobility to walk the line and fire crisp passes all over the ice makes him dangerous. He can beat opponents off the blueline to open up more opportunities to make plays. The six-foot Reid needs to work on his defensive game, particularly when the play gets hemmed in his own end, but the upside is enticing.
Speaking of enticing upside, Ryker Lee was so much fun to watch this season for Madison in the United States League. His puckhandling is tantalizing, creating space with his hands and manipulating the position of the puck to open passing or shooting lanes. His defensive game is a work in progress, but his offensive tools are absolutely unreal at times. Lee has a fantastic shot, but his creativity and touch as a passer make him special. His skating needs to develop so that he can better use his skills, which makes the move to Michigan State such a smart one. College will allow him to refine his craft against bigger, stronger competition.
Jacob Rombach is a physical defensive defenseman. He won’t try to make flashy or skilled plays, understanding the limitations of his game and playing within them. The 6-foot-6 defender is a smooth skater who reads play and cuts it down as quickly as possible. He has the tools to make a good breakout pass or connecting play, but his offensive game won’t blow anyone away. Rombach is a throwback in some ways, bringing the big hits and physical edge that teams love.
The Predators replenished their goalie pipeline by adding Jack Ivankovic. He may not have been the first goalie off the board, but he was in the top tier of netminders in this class. His six-foot size was the one limiting factor for NHL scouts, but his technical game and athleticism are exactly what they should want. Ivankovic has been a fixture for Team Canada at the junior levels because he can not only give his team a chance to win but also steal games.
Alex Huang was talked about as a potential first-rounder heading into the season. The defenseman’s mobility and passing were impressive throughout the campaign. Huang took advantage of the QMJHL's softer defensive structure to find passing lanes or room to change the angle. His defensive play was inconsistent, and Huang’s overall issue is that he has struggled to consistently impact the game at both ends when the pace and pressure increase.
With their final pick of the draft, Nashville took Daniel Nieminen. The 19-year-old Finnish blueliner has always been an excellent skater, but this year, he showed just how well-rounded his game is. His puck-moving ability is impressive and efficient. Nieminen uses his skating defensively as well, cutting off play and gapping up quickly to take away the time to make a play.
Strengths
For a team that has struggled to find a true No. 1 center for most of its existence, the Predators prioritized drafting players with at least some center experience.
Wood and Joey Willis have played some center, but they’ll likely wind up as wingers at the next level. But their centers who have an actual chance of sticking there are solid bets.
The recently drafted Martin is a one-man wrecking crew who has some intriguing upside. Surin is a high-energy center who plays fast and skillfully. Felix Nilsson is a complete, do-it-all center who understands how to advance play on just about every shift. Edstrom is a strong two-way center with the size and mobility to be an effective middle-six pivot. The Preds may not have a true No. 1 in the pipeline still, but they have a handful of centers who could all be legitimate options in the middle six.
Weaknesses
The Predators have done a fairly good job of rebuilding the prospect pool, but the one area they haven’t really addressed yet is the right side of the defense.
They have a couple of low-upside long shots, but they don’t have a potential top-four blueliner. On the left side, they have Molendyk, Reid and maybe Rombach or Nieminen, depending on how much rope you want to give them. Jack Matier and Andrew Gibson look like depth players at most, and the more recent draft picks don’t come with much pedigree. Finding a young D-man on the right side will be key to building toward the next era.
Hidden Gem: Felix Nilsson, C/W
With incredible intelligence and a tactical approach to the game, Nilsson has grown quite a bit since being drafted in 2023. The 19-year-old had a bit of a breakout season in the SHL with 22 points in 40 games.
Nilsson is a playmaker who makes crisp passes as he works his way around the ice like a chess player. He uses his teammates and positions himself to receive return passes, working give-and-gos around the ice. In the offensive zone, Nilsson consistently funnels pucks to dangerous scoring areas. The ability to read the play and make the correct passes with perfect timing and weight makes Nilsson a very steady center.
Next Man Up: Matthew Wood, C/W
While most of the projected lineups have Wood listed in the bottom six, his offensive habits and dual-threat ability will work best in the top six.
Wood has consistently been able to play alongside high-end players as a passing option in give-and-go plays or on the boards in transition. Wood keeps pace, fills space and understands how to present the puck carrier with an outlet at every turn. He stays connected to his linemates, keeping good spacing. Wood is likely to bounce around the lineup, but if he gets a shot in the top six, he could be a sneaky Calder candidate.
Prospect Depth Chart Notables
LW: Matthew Wood, Teddy Stiga, Joey Willis, Kalan Lind, Reid Schaefer, Viktor Norringer
C: Brady Martin, Egor Surin, Felix Nilsson, David Edstrom, Adam Ingram
RW: Ryker Lee, Joakim Kemell, Aiden Fink, Hiroki Gojsic, Ozzy Wiesblatt
LD: Tanner Molendyk, Cameron Reid, Adam Wilsby, Jacob Rombach, Daniel Nieminen, Viggo Gustafsson
RD: Jack Matier, Andrew Gibson, Alex Huang, Kasper Kulonummi
G: Jack Ivankovic, Jakub Milota, Magnus Chrona
For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.
Ex-Penguins Forward Signs With New TeamFormer Pittsburgh Penguins forward Daniel Sprong is heading overseas, as he has signed a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow of the KHL.
