Nashville Predators: Top Players They Could’ve Drafted But Didn’t

Brad Marchand (2006, 3rd Round)

The Predators didn’t have a pick in this draft until all the way at the 56th-overall pick. They had just erupted the previous season with 106 points and nearly winning the Central Division. They were starting to build something great in Nashville.

More from Predlines

• Nashville Predators 2023 Training Camp Spotlight: Kiefer Sherwood
• Captain Candidates if Nashville Predators Didn’t Have Roman Josi
• The All-Time 25 Games or Less Nashville Predators Lineup
• Nashville Predators 2023 Training Camp Spotlight: Cody Glass
• Joakim Kemell Flashes his Offense in Nashville Predators Loss to Tampa

At the 56th pick the Predators took American centerman Blake Geoffrion, and unfortunately it ended up being a bust of a pick. He only played in 42 games for the Predators amassing 11 points and hardly seeing any ice time.

As much as Brad Marchand is a polarizing player that many fans can’t stand, you can’t deny he’s a great player. He got selected 15 picks later by the Boston Bruins in the third round, and now he’s past the 700-point career milestone.

Every team is kicking themselves for passing on Marchand in this draft, but it sting particularly for a team like the Predators who made a horrendous pick with Geoffrion. At least other teams still took a solid player despite passing on Marchand.

Marchand has 57 points this season for the Bruins, while many times during an 82-game season we rarely see a Predators player get to that point production.