The Nashville Predators completed their 2025 draft just about 24 hours ago. And the biggest memory here is that Barry Trotz had five players to pick in the first two rounds.
Drafts like these can completely change a prospect pool's trajectory, and it looks like Trotz knew that. So, how well did he fare? I know some fans didn't like a few of these picks, but a few respected voices around the league were more than cool with what Trotz did.
You may know what I think if you read some of my quick takes following the Day 1 picks and the summary I gave after Day 2. But I haven't gotten a chance to break down each pick just yet. Well now, the wait is finally over.
5th overall - Brady Martin, F/Grade: A-plus
I was ecstatic to see Brady Martin fly off the board at fifth overall. When you have someone who has elite potential to score often AND land between 200 and 250 body checks in a season, you don't hesitate. You take them, and run with it. Sign me up for multiple 90-plus-point seasons.
21st overall - Cameron Reid, D/Grade: A
He was one of my favorite prospects who I wouldn't have cared to have seen go higher. Cameron Reid's a future power play quarterback slash playmaker when he makes it to the NHL, and that's his absolute floor. He'll have a rookie season to rival Lane Hutson once he's NHL-ready.
26th overall - Ryker Lee, F/Grade: A-minus
I won't claim that Ryker Lee was the best player on the board here, but he was a necessary asset for the Preds. I don't see Lee rising up past the 16:30 mark of average ice time once he's playing with the big club. But he'll make the most of it and garner a few 50-plus-point campaigns.
35th overall - Jacob Rombach, D/Grade: A
Just go for an intimidating defensive defenseman with a build that could one day rival Zdeno Chara's. That's all I needed to know in order to like this pick. Rombach will find a spot on the top-pairing down the road and punish opponents left and right.
58th overall - Jack Ivankovic, G/Grade: A-minus
It's looking like it's meant to be for Jack Ivankovic to, at some point, replace Juuse Saros. This would give Ivankovic four seasons to develop with the Wolverines, then take a year or two in the AHL. Give him six seasons to develop, and he can be the next Saros - that's the bold prediction.
122nd overall - Alex Huang, D/Grade: A
I'm still trying to figure out how Alex Huang dropped this far, but I didn't complain when the Preds snagged him. After a few seasons, he too will make the NHL and land on a middle pairing. Might be bold, but Trotz made arguably the best late-round decision of any team here.
163rd overall - Daniel Nieminen, D/Grade: A
Two-way, mobile blueliners who make the most of their limited ice time as kids in Finland's top pro league usually set the stage to surprise people when they're drafted so late. So yeah, the pick officially gave Trotz as close to a 4.0 as one could get. Nieminen's definitely getting in some NHL games once he's ready.
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