#3- Matthew Wood, Winger, 2023 1st Round Draft Pick by Nashville Predators
Matthew Wood got his first taste of the NHL towards the end of last season while the Predators were off the rails and just looking to give some prospects a chance to show what they have.
Event though he didn't score a goal in his first six NHL games, he was all over the net for scoring chances. He put up eight shots on goal and has many other opportunities to set teammates up. He did register an assist for his first NHL point on a Michael Bunting goal.
Wood was used sparingly as you would expect for a young player getting his NHL debut sooner than expected. He averaged a little over 11 minutes of ice time per game. He has already completed three seasons in the NCAA and now looks to be a regular on the Milwaukee Admirals in 2025-26.
I'm putting Wood ahead of Surin and Stiga because obviously he's much further along in his progression and might once again be a call-up to the NHL next season. He'll even be looked at strongly in Predators training camp.
Also with Wood being on the wing, he should have much more opportunities to stick in the NHL and become a goal scorer and power play specialist. He already possesses a really good shot that's going to eventually lead to a lot of goals in the NHL.
The real measuring stick will be how Wood looks with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL. If he becomes a regular goal scorer for them in 2025-26, it won't be long before he becomes an NHL regular for the Predators.
I have Wood as a strong bet to be a top-six winger after a couple full seasons in the NHL to develop his game more. I like his big frame at 6'4" to not get pushed around in the NHL once he gets more comfortable and the game slows down for him more. It doesn't happen instantaneously for the vast majority of prospects, except for rare breeds like Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini.
Stiga and Surin still feel like long-shots and it's where the depth drops off, but Wood is a prospect that has superstar potential once the current veteran crop of Predators core players are on their way out. A 30-goal scorer and 60-point scorer is my floor, with hopefully more when he hits his prime.