The Nashville Predators wrapped up the 2025 NHL Draft with the 163rd pick in the sixth round, selecting Finnish defenseman Daniel Nieminen.
Nieminen scored 11 points with the Pelicans in his first season in the Finnish Elite League. He also played in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, scoring two points in seven games.
The 6-foot, 187-pound defenseman, with a left shot, is expected to play with the Pelicans next season and will stay there for a few years before coming to North America.
The next season in the Finnish Elite League will be crucial for the Predators to gauge how good Nieminen can be.
The Predators had the 182nd overall pick as their final pick of the draft, but traded it to the Utah Mammoth for a 2026 sixth-round pick.
🚨 Daniel Nieminen sivaltaa @lahdenpelicans:in tasoihin! 💥
— Liiga (@smliiga) April 10, 2025
Mikä ilta meillä onkaan – jatkoeriin mennään. 😮💨
📺 @MTVUrheilu | #Liiga#PelicansFi@Mestispic.twitter.com/W5JZeVDz6x
Nashville also received the Edmonton Oilers' 2026 fifth-round pick when it traded the 131st overall pick.
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.
On Saturday, Lincoln Stars defenseman Jacob Rombach was selected with the 35th pick, and Brampton Steelheads goalie Jack Ivankovic was picked with the 58th overall pick.
A trade with the Vegas Golden Knights has given the Nashville Predators an extra pick in the NHL Draft, coming in the fourth round at 122nd overall.
They traded the 55th overall pick to the Golden Knights for the 58th and 122nd overall picks.
They selected Chicoutimi Saguenéens defenseman Alex Huang with the pick.