It's not very often that a team has the luxury of having three first-round draft picks in the same year, and that's where the Nashville Predators sit right now with their first pick coming at 5th overall.
There's a lot of speculation as to if the Predators will actually use all three first round picks, or will they work in a trade. In addition to the 5th overall pick, the Predators currently have the 23rd overall pick (via the Tampa Bay Lightning) and the 26th overall pick (via the Vegas Golden Knights).
This draft has been generally viewed by scouts as being top heavy and not as deep as previous drafts of recent memory. This might incline the Predators to trade one of their first round picks if they don't feel confident in what's on the board when their time comes to pick.
With that said, let's reveal our Predlines staff mock draft of the first round of the NHL Draft.
Calvin Luckfield:
5th Overall Pick: James Hagens
Nashville has needed its true 1C for years, and Hagens has the makings of one, with skilled passing and some speed to help drive the offense. Once discussed as a sure first overall pick at times, if he is available to the Preds, they should still make the smart decision and select him. With this pick, the growing collection of young potential centers would get a huge boost, and improve depth in that area greatly. Something GM Barry Trotz has mentioned wanting to do since arriving. There has been a lot of speculation about where Hagens could go, so I could easily see him sliding as low as the Preds, or going as high as the Islanders. As long as Nashville gets a center with their first pick, they'll leave happy.
23rd Overall Pick: Blake Fiddler
A 6'4" defenseman, he fits the mold of recent Cup champions' D cores. Most teams that make it far have a few monsters on the back end, and with Fidler's size, he would add this to a Preds prospect pool currently lacking the tools he brings. He knows how to use his size to knock opponents off pucks and is strong in his end. Born in none other than Tennessee, a hometown story would be a fun one to add to the organization.
26th Overall Pick: Trade back
There are a few decent options toward the end of the first round, but experts have noted the expected drop-off in talent is evident. Due to this fact, I'd wonder if general manager Barry Trotz could find a team looking to move a couple of picks, including a 2026 1st to move into this year's first round. Next year's draft projects to be much deeper, and with the pick being in the later round this year anyway, there would be no harm in kicking the can down the road and making the pick later. This also keeps extra draft capital in Trotz's back pocket until as late as this time next year.
Jordan Manning:
5th Overall Pick: Caleb Desnoyers
I truly believe that the Predators will take a swing at a guy like Caleb Desnoyers. The 6'2" centerman had an impressive 84-point (35g, 49a) season with the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL, making a name for himself as a top prospect. This season, he showcased elite playmaking and a high hockey IQ. His ability to consistently find the best passing lane would be a valuable asset for Nashville, a team in desperate need of a reliable playmaker. While someone like Hagens may still be available, Desnoyers is more consistent on both ends of the ice and can end up being an elite centerman for years to come.
23rd Overall: Blake Fiddler
Blake Fiddler, standing at 6'4" 209 lbs., boasts one of the best two-way games out of any defender in his draft class. With the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL, he recorded 33 points in 64 games. Fiddler’s defensive play is his calling card—he keeps attackers away from high-danger areas and limits quality scoring chances. I can see Trotz drafting Fiddler not only because of his Nashville roots, but also because talented right-handed defensemen are hard to find. His size allows him to keep the puck out of reach, and if paired with Tanner Molendyk in the future, the Preds could be looking at a dynamic one-two punch on the blue line.
26th Overall: Joshua Ravensbergen
Joshua Ravensbergen could develop into a strong backup for Juuse Saros in the near future. At 6'5", there’s not much getting past him in net. He posted a .901 SV% and a 3.00 GAA with the Prince George Cougars. While those numbers aren’t eye-popping by any means, Ravensbergen held his own in seven playoff games on a struggling Cougars squad. The right-catching netminder—a rarity in the NHL—is calm and composed under pressure. Despite his size, he moves with surprising agility, often flashing Saros-like athleticism as he dives post-to-post to make game-saving stops. With his combination of size and speed, Nashville could gain long-term stability in net.
Chad Minton:
5th Overall Pick: Anton Frondell
Frondell's draft stock is all over the place. Some scouts grade him outside the top-5, others including Byron Bader have Frondell as their top prospect in the draft class.
With the top-2 picks being pretty set with Michael Misa and Matthew Schaefer, the x-factor is predicting how far James Hagens falls. I think he and Porter Martone go before the Predators pick, and that will leave a choice between Frondell, Caleb Desnoyers and a few other center prospects who have top-10 value.
I love Frondell's game and how he played in such a difficult league against grown men over in Sweden. His draft year has been a productive one for Djurgårdens in the Swedish leagues. He is a prototypical two-way forward who makes everyone around him better and has great size to make a smooth transition to the NHL one day. He's the safest pick at five for the Predators, if he's there. I think he will be, but not for long after that if the Predators pass on him.
23rd Overall Pick: Cameron Reid
The Predators will need to restock the cupboard throughout multiple position in the first round, which is why I just don't see them trading any of their first-round picks. They need first-round talent to reload a prospect pool that lacks a lot of depth right now.
I really like Cameron Reid as a value pick at 23rd if he's there. A speedster on the blueline who has power play capabilities and projected to be a top-four NHL defender. His ranking in the draft class ranges from 13th by FCHockey to all the way down to 37th by TSN's Bob McKenzie.
There's a decent chance that Reid will be on the board when the Predators pick at 23rd. Reid just completed his second season in the OHL with an offensive explosion for 54 points.
26th Overall Pick: Joshua Ravensbergen
It really just makes too much sense for the Predators to continue their reputation of being a goalie factory. After shockingly trading away their top prospect in Yaroslav Askarov last season, the obvious need is there to replace him, and right now there doesn't appear to be that guy in the prospect pool.
Goalies usually fall out of the first round and still turn out to be really good ones in the NHL one day, and that's how I feel about drafting Joshua Ravensbergen. If you want him, you're taking a big gamble that he will fall too deep into the second round. That's why the Predators pounce on Ravensbergen with their 26th pick rather than trading it. They need a goalie to begin the long journey to one day being Juuse Saros' backup.
Ravensbergen is the opposite style goalie to Saros in terms of sheer size. He covers the entire net from post to post just like what you want if you went into a lab and built your perfect goalie. You have to take him in the first round and get your insurance policy to Saros in the system.
Matthew Maratea:
5th overall pick: Porter Martone
There are some options with this pick, but scoring has to be put at a premium for the Predators. Martone is a player who understands how to score goals and how to do it at every level. He's also a big body willing to play a heavy game. Martone's likely going to be a one-and-done in college, and should be easy to develop into a bona fide star.
23rd overall pick: Blake Fiddler
Nashville born, Texas raised, the Predators should dip into the NHL bloodlines and team history here to make the pick. A 6'4" right-handed defenseman, Fiddler adds size and skill on the backend. He's physical, tactical, and has plenty of untapped offensive potential. Fiddler's worth the investment, even if D-men take longer to develop.
26th overall pick: Bill Zonnon
Some years ago, the Predators made a move to bring Wayne Simmonds to town. That's the player you're getting in Zonnon, only with better skating and more deft hands. Zonnon can play physical, dominate a net front, and can play either center or wing. His size and versatility should make him a valuable prospect for the Predators.