First Round draft grades for the Nashville Predators in 2025 NHL Draft

It was unclear if the Nashville Predators were going to trade any of their first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday, but they instead decided to use all three picks to address three positions of need while also facilitating one trade to move up two spots.

When you finish 30th in the NHL standings, every position is a need and the Predators drafted a center, a defenseman and a winger.

Brady Martin was taken at 5th overall, addressing the Predators' need two decades in the making of getting a franchise No.1 center. Then the Predators traded with Ottawa to move up two spots to take defenseman Cameron Reid at 21st overall.

To cap off the three picks the Predators had in the first round, they selected right winger Ryker Lee at 26th overall. Here's my draft grades for each pick and where I see them fitting with the Predators down the road.

5th Overall Pick: Brady Martin, Center, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)

When the Predators first got on the clock to make their draft pick at fifth overall, everyone was thinking it was going to be either James Hagens or Porter Martone. Both were popular mock draft choices for the Predators and bring that high level of offensive skill the franchise needs with top line probabilities.

General Manager Barry Trotz again decided to throw everyone for a loop and took the hard-hitting and high-motor Brady Martin. A prototypical two-way center and doesn't have one blemish in his game. He plays a complete game, and his only knock on him is maybe he went too high over Hagens or Martone.

After also being let down by the Predators passing on Hagens and Martone, I started looking more at Martin's game and I have to admit there is a lot to like. He has a high compete level, lays out the hits regularly but also has sneak puck skills.

Many are saying that Martin is a reach at No.5, but even so, this guy still has the makings of one day being a top-six center for the Nashville Predators. Trotz had this say to about Martin, via Robby Stanley of 102.5 The Game.

If Martin blazes into Predators training camp and pushes for a NHL role right out of the gate, then yeah we're going to like this pick a lot. Before that happens, I'll keep my expectations modest for now only because I'm skeptical that he ever lives up to top-line center aspirations.

Grade: B

21st-overall pick: Cameron Reid, LD, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

The pick itself is great value on paper as Cameron Reid was projected by some scouts to go in the top-20. The Predators wanted to make sure he didn't drop off the board just two picks later that they were willing to trade away their third-round pick to make it happen. Take that for what you will.

Either way, they're clearly getting a player to reload their defenseman position in the prospect pool. After Tanner Molendyk, there are a lot of question marks in terms of NHL ceilings. Maybe Andrew Gibson and maybe Ryan Ufko. But either way, it's thin so this is a solid pick to get Reid.

Reid is a great transition defenseman who makes a lot happen on offense. A power play point guy who fell to 21st for the Predators mainly because many scouts think his ceiling is second pairing defenseman due to consistency. Something that can improve with more development, so this doesn't really worry me that much.

This pick also gives the Predators an addition of speed to their prospect pool, which we all know this franchise needs more of. Reid blazes through the neutral zone to rush the puck up ice and create scoring chances.

My top ceiling for Reid is that in a couple years he's challenging for a top-four role behind Tanner Molendyk. By the time Reid is ready for consistent NHL minutes, Josi will no longer be a focal point. It will be a changing of the guard of younger defenseman coming into the picture. Reid is a clear pick to prepare for that.

Grade: A

26th-overall pick: Ryker Lee, RW, Madison Capitols (USHL), Committed to Michigan State

Another possible reach by Trotz in selecting Ryker Lee at 26th. I've seen a lot of talk that Lee could've fallen into the second round and still been there when the Predators get the third pick of the second round.

Despite that, Lee does have a boom or bust type of potential. The guy has raw offensive skills with his shot. Elite Prospects has this to say about Lee's offensive traits:

""Rapid-fire handling skill, explosive pull-back wristers, perfect lob passes, backhand dangles, precision saucer passes – Lee has just about every skill in the book""

Elite Prospects

The part of Lee's game that lacks and probably gives him more of a second round grade is average speed. He's not going to blaze past defenders and instead relies on finding the puck once he's in the offensive zone so he can unleash his wide range of shots and passing abilities.

I actually really like the player and initially I gave this pick a pretty solid grade, but now that I'm seeing that Trotz likely could've waited to take Lee in the second round shortly after, this pick is too soon with other players still on the board with first round grades.

The Predators still haven't taken a right shot defenseman, but the opportunity remains to take hometown favorite Blake Fiddler. Let's hope San Jose or Carolina don't take him first in Round 2.

As for the Lee pick, a bottom-six winger with a best case scenario second-line spot is my ceiling for him. With the right development at Michigan State, he'll eventually become a valuable middle-six scoring threat for the Predators. I actually like this pick way more than others seem to, even though Trotz probably could have waited until Round 2 to take him.

Grade: B+

So despite forcing fans into a frenzy about passing on Hagens and Martone, I actually really like all three of the picks the Predators made. Look, when you're depleted like the Predators are, you need help everywhere and the Predators addressed three positions. All three bring unique offensive traits and will be contributors on the power play if all works out according to plan.

Overall in the first round I give Trotz a solid B. He didn't hit a home run on paper, but he hit a solid double with more work to be done in Round 2 with two more picks and five more picks overall since they traded their third round pick.

Now go get Fiddler if he's still on the board next.