The Nashville Predators snagged the great Cameron Reid 21st overall, striking gold because this kid, if he had a little more size, would've been a top-15 pick, I can guarantee you that.
If you like offensive-defensemen, Preds fans, Cameron Reid's the kind of player you'll want in the system, and he's gonna be fun to watch. No, he's nowhere near a finished product, but the growth he showed in 2024-25 is just unreal.
And yes, he puts up points like a forward, in case you were still wondering. This past season, he landed 40 assists and 54 total points for the Kitchener Rangers in 67 games, and it really came after some lean showings the previous season, and at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. That said, Reid could be just getting started.
This came 16 slots after the Brady Martin pick, and I wouldn't be surprised if Reid and Martin became cornerstones for this Predators franchise that needs a few of them. Give it a year, and Martin could be ready to roll for the Preds. For Reid, another two or three seasons isn't unrealistic.
Predators traded up and got a steal in Cameron Reid
The Preds traded up from the 23rd pick to the 21st pick for this one, and when I saw they landed Reid, a smirk crossed my face. This is exactly what I meant when I said, "strike gold."
Because Reid's gonna be golden in Smashville, once he packs on another 15-20 pounds of muscle and keeps developing his game.
The burning question for Reid will be if he'll have a tough time adjusting to the pro game when he's eligible to make the jump to the AHL. With an April 2007 birthday, it'll be a minute before he makes that jump. But if he keeps developing his game the way he did this past season in Kitchener, it could be a smooth transition.
And if the Predators current squad can salvage some of the credibility they lost last season, it'll be an advantage for Reid's development. Unless he proves to be more than ready to make the jump into the NHL rankings earlier, that is. But I wouldn't blame the Preds if they took their time developing the latest blueliner in their system.
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