The Nashville Predators opened the second day of the NHL Draft with two second-round selections at 35th and 58th overall.
Lincoln Stars defenseman Jacob Rombach was selected with the 35th pick, and Brampton Steelheads goalie Jack Ivankovic was picked with the 58th overall pick.
Nashville received the 58th and 122nd overall picks in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights for the 55th overall pick.
The Predators continue to scout size and strength as Rombach has a 6-foot-7-inch, 209-pound build. The Blaine, Minnesota native scored 18 points in 57 games and logged 57 penalty minutes with the Stars in the USHL this past season.
He is committed to play at the University of Minnesota this fall.
While Rombach still has some room to develop, his size and use of his frame are promising.
The Predators picked up their first goalie of this draft in Ivankovic. In his second season in the OHL, Ivankovic posted a 25-12-5 regular season record with a goals-against average of 3.05 and a save percentage of .903.
He won the F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy in his first season, which is awarded to the OHL rookie goalie with the best goals against average. Ivankovic had a 2.72 goals against average.
His numbers did inflate in the playoffs as he had a 4.87 goals against average and a .877 save percentage in five games played.
Ivankovic is committed to playing at the University of Michigan in the fall of 2026 and will likely spend the coming season with Brampton.
We got a goalie fight! Jack Ivankovic Vs Owen Flores! pic.twitter.com/GraFKk5AW5
— Connor Williams (@cwilliams_384) October 6, 2024
At 5-foot, 11-inches and 178 pounds, Ivankovic is slightly smaller than most NHL goalies, but has a lot of time to grow physically and on the ice. Having a good goalie ready to go is a huge advantage.
Nashville had three first round picks on Friday.
The selected Soo Greyhounds center Brady Martin with the fifth overall pick, Kitchener Rangers defenseman Cameron Reid with the 21st overall pick and Madison Capitols forward Ryker Lee with the 26th overall pick.