In a serious of unexpected events, the Nashville Predators moved up in the 2026 NHL Draft to select right-handed defenseman Tommy Bleyl No. 31 overall.
The selection came after the Predators traded picks No. 42 and 57 to the Carolina Hurricanes for the No. 31 pick in the first round. Bleyl's selection marks the second-straight season where the club possesses two or more first round picks and the fourth in the last six seasons.
Bleyl, 18, led both the Moncton Wildcats and league defensemen in scoring with 13 goals and 81 points. He previously played for Cushing Academy in the USHS-Prep where he played 30 games and scored six goals and 27 points.
He entered the draft as one of the highest anticipated defensive prospects in his class. Projected to go nearly ten picks prior, Bleyl is considered a steal on Nashville's part, and it's clear that management believed they got one as well, moving up to snag him. His right-handedness is what makes him all the more valuable, as a productive righthanded defenseman is hard to come by in the modern NHL.
The New York native has strong vision and a great sense for anticipating plays. Known for his quarterback playstyle, Bleyl opts to pass the puck up to his team's top scorers or decides to drive into the zone when no one else is available.
Defensively, Bleyl excels in breaking up plays with excellent positioning. He prefers to use stick over the body to cause turnovers, which is fine, but could see some more physicality in the future. His 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame can sometimes get the best of him as he occasionally struggles to compete against larger bodies.
Here's what prospect analyst Austin of the Expected Buffalo had to say about Bleyl's game.
"Bleyl is a high-skill, mobile defender whose game flashes offense far more than his overall impact currently reflects. His lateral mobility and hands at the blue line are legitimate weapons, allowing him to routinely beat defenders one-on-one and create clean shooting or passing lanes with subtle deception. The puck skill is there, but he plays a far more conservative game than his toolkit suggests, opting for safe, connective passes rather than leaning into his ability to create, which limits his offensive influence."Austin, Expected Buffalo
For the Predators, however, size isn't an issue. There have been a handful of promising undersized defenders that have entered the system, with the most recent example being Ryan Ufko. President of Hockey Operations/General Manager Chris MacFarland made playmaking his calling card this draft with his selection of Wyatt Cullen at No. 10. Together, Cullen and Bleyl can be a powerful duo, driving the puck into a rush and creating highlight reel plays in the opposing zone.
Like Cullen, the Predators aren't expected to see Bleyl for a while. He is set to return to the Wildcats this season before joining prospect Ryker Lee on Michigan State University for the 2027-28 season. With a few years of development before his arrival, he'll have plenty of time to get into shape and prepare himself for the big leagues. In 3-4 years' time, Nashville could be looking at one of its strongest rosters in franchise history, and Bleyl will play a big role in that.
Add us as a preferred source on Google