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It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.

The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year (Ivan Ivan, for example, spent more time in the NHL than AHL last year, making him ineligilble for this list). Players over 23 years old are not included, with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.

Today, we’re breaking down the Nashville Predators.

The Predators have quickly built one of the most dangerous pipelines in all of hockey.

It’s not hard to see why. They had three first-rounders in 2025 and five picks in the top 58. Over the past three years, they’ve drafted 26 prospects, with their most recent crop being among the best of any team – in my opinion, at least.

The past NHL season might have been ugly for the Preds. But the future looks bright – and if they want to retool instead of breaking everything up, they could swap out a couple of assets to make it happen. According to Daily Faceoff’s rankings, Nashville had the 13th best pipeline a year ago, and the 11th in 2023. While the final ranking for 2025 hasn’t been decided, you can bet the Predators will be near the top.

Only one prospect – Zachary L’Heureux – was promoted to Nashville’s main lineup last year. We likely won’t see any others make the move up to the big league this year, but there’s plenty of high-end youngsters who should become impact players sooner rather than later.

Biggest Strength

I really like what Nashville has done down the middle. I’m a big Brady Martin fan and love that pick for the Preds. David Edstrom is a smart, 200-foot forward who can be a pain in the butt to get away from the front of the net. Yegor Surin can play down the middle and the wing, and Felix Nilsson is coming off a great campaign in Sweden. Don’t count out Joey Willis, either.

Biggest Weakness

I don’t really like the depth on Nashville’s right side of the blueline. Andrew Gibson and Ryan Ufko are both fine prospects, but I don’t think either is more than a third-pairing guy down the line. Alex Huang has skill, but I’m not sure he’s strong enough for the next level. You can move left-hand shots to the right side, so it’s not a big deal, but it definitely looks a bit lopsided right now.

Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Barry Trotz
Dir. of Scouting: Jeff Kealty
Dir. of Player Development: Scott Nichol
AHL Affiliate: Milwaukee Admirals
ECHL Affiliate: Atlanta Gladiators

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

*Brady Martin (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

1. Brady Martin, C, 18 (Soo Greyhounds, OHL)

Acquired: Drafted fifth overall, first round in 2025

I loved this pick because he plays a hard, no-nonsense game and tends to make everyone around him better. Martin played at more than a point per game in the OHL with the Greyhounds, serving as the team’s top young star. He was also one of the best players at both the Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the U-18 World Championship. Away from the puck, he hits everyone in sight. He constantly battles hard for the puck and is a noted goal-scorer, too. Some might look at some of the points the Predators left on the board by taking Martin over, say, Porter Martone. But Martin has proven time and time again that he’s a battler who gives it his all every night and often comes out on top. He’s also much more skilled than people give him credit for.

2. Tanner Molendyk, LHD, 20 (Milwaukee Admirals, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 24th overall, first round in 2023

Molendyk was excellent yet again in the WHL this past year, further establishing himself as one of the best left-handed defensive prospects in the game. He’s mobile, smart and an excellent puck distributor. Molendyk is a much better two-way threat than he was in his draft year, allowing him to become more effective without the puck as well. It feels like Molendyk focused on building out his weaknesses – which often came down to defensive reads and positioning – to become a more polished threat. For what it’s worth, Molendyk was also one of the few bright spots for Canada at the World Juniors, too. I think spending the year in the AHL is the right move for the undersized defenseman, but once he gets his first taste of NHL action, I doubt he gets sent back down.

3. David Edstrom, C, 20 (Milwaukee Admirals, AHL)

Acquired: Traded by the San Jose Sharks in 2024

*David Edstrom (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

Edstrom registered his second consecutive seven-goal, 19-point campaign with Frolunda and then finished the year in Milwaukee. I liked him at the World Juniors, where he showed a bit more flash than we were used to seeing. I think his bread and butter is being an excellent two-way center. He also loves to utilize his 6-foot-3 frame effectively in front of the net. Scoring likely won’t be his forte, and that might make him seem a bit underrated. But I think his game is in a great spot right now. I like him as a potential No. 2/3 center who makes everyone around him better.

4. Cameron Reid, LHD, 18 (Kitchener Rangers, OHL)

Acquired: Drafted 21st overall, first round in 2025

Reid isn’t big, but he can shut guys down. Reid can do a little bit of everything – his three-zone game is so good, and he’s got the intelligence to beat so many players in 1-on-1 situations. The more I watched him in Kitchener, the more I liked him. I love the way he skates, and while he isn’t big, he doesn’t have a ton of issues in physical games. I feel like he got asked to do a bit too much for Kitchener during the playoffs, but I still liked how engaged he was every night. While I’d like him to add some more muscle over the next few seasons, I think his game is in a good spot. At the very least, I see top-four potential.

5. Matthew Wood, RW, 19 (Milwaukee Admirals, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 15th overall, first round in 2023

Wood made a big impact at UConn right out of the gate as a 17-year-old, but fell flat as a sophomore. He bounced back with a great showing at the University of Minnesota this year before registering a point during a short six-game stint with the Predators to close out the season. As a 6-foot-4 forward, you love the size. And he’s got one of the best shots of any prospect, too. But his skating has always been an issue, and he’s still not a true play-driver. That being said, I love his game with the puck and I think he can be a good point-producer, but I’m not 100 percent sold on his game until he can add more pace.

6. Joakim Kemell, RW, 21 (Milwaukee Admirals, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 17th overall, first round in 2022

*Joakim Kemell (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

I was hoping to see Kemell hit the 50-point mark this season. Instead, he had 40 in 65 games, putting him third in team scoring. I think Kemell is still a good AHLer but I was hoping to see him elevate his offensive game another level. That being said, I still love his shot, he plays with a ton of energy, and he has always outplayed his smaller frame. I’m just not totally sure where he fits in Nashville’s long-term plans right now. If he’s not playing power-play minutes or playing with a high-end passer, that’s going to hurt his potential.

7. Teddy Stiga, LW, 19 (Boston College, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 55th overall, second round in 2024

Stiga was one of my favorite prospects a year ago and I’m still a big fan. He had a good showing at the World Juniors but took just one shot – it happened to be the golden goal. Stiga had an impressive 30 points in 36 games with Boston College and I expect him to improve upon that as a sophomore this season. While Stiga isn’t big at 5-foot-10, he makes up for it with his hockey sense, playmaking and tenacious energy. I think Stiga is better suited for the middle six, but he has plenty of experience playing with high-end skill guys and can easily line up anywhere you need him.

8. Yegor Surin, C/LW, 18 (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 22nd overall, first round in 2024

*Egor Surin (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Surin spent time in both the KHL and MHL last year, and he saved some of his best hockey for the KHL playoffs. Now set for his first full season in 2025-26, Surin has an opportunity to really establish himself as a true power forward. Discipline was an issue in his draft year but much less so this past season. I almost wish he’d bring some of that old school physicality. Nonetheless, he’s good with the puck, can play both ends and has the ability to impact a shift every time he hits the ice. Surin’s KHL deal runs until 2027, but I expect him to challenge for an NHL roster spot after that.

9. Jack Ivankovic, G, 18 (University of Michigan, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 58th overall, second round in 2025

NHL teams are all about big goaltenders, and the Predators had one in Pekka Rinne. But they’ve also bet high on smaller goalies in the past; namely Juuse Saros. Could Ivankovic, a 5-foot-11 keeper, be the next? The athletic keeper does an excellent job of tracking shots and is as competitive as they get in the crease. His save percentage wasn’t great in the OHL last year, but he’s been left hung out to dry a bit too often. More often than not, he’s finding a way to steal a game or two for the Steelheads. If he could grow to 6-foot-1, I’d have almost no real concerns with his game. I’m a big believer in Ivankovic, but he has a big hill to climb still. For what it’s worth, I had Ivankovic a few spots higher than Jacob Rombach in my final rankings, so I’m keeping him ahead despite Rombach going ahead in the draft.

10. Jacob Rombach, LHD, 18 (University of Minnesota, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 35th overall, second round in 2025

The first thing that stands out about Rombach is his size; he’s 6-foot-6 and isn’t afraid to make people pay. The Lincoln Stars blueliner is excellent at forcing turnovers and has a good shot, although some scouts wish he’d use it more. He’s not the most skilled defender, but after spending the past two years in the USHL, you can tell he’s got the maturity and hockey IQ to be effective in his own zone. Rombach has all the makings of a no-nonsense shutdown defender, and while his offense is definitely limited, that’s not the draw here.

The rest: Ryder Rolston, RW (23), Reid Schaefer, LW (21), Joey Willis, C (20), Cole O’Hara, RW (23), Austin Roest, RW (21), Hiroki Gojsic, RW (19), Kalan Lind, LW (20), Miguel Marques, RW (19), Viktor Norringer, LW (18), Erik Palhsson, C (21), Aiden Fink, RW (20), Sutter Muzzatti, C (22), Felix Nilsson, C (20), Adam Ingram, C (21), Ben Strinden, C (23), Ryan Ufko, RHD (22), Andrew Gibson, RHD (20), Jack Matier, RHD (22), Alex Huang, RHD (17), Daniel Nieminen, LHD (19), Viggo Guastafsson, LHD (18), Kasper Kulonummi, RHD (21), Jakub Milota, G (19), Magnus Chrona, G (24)

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