The Nashville Predators possesses one of the NHL's top prospect pools, and a large portion of that title is thanks to the state of Michigan.
Next season, the Predators will have four prospects in the Great Lakes State, split between their two top universities. Defenseman Cameron Reid and goalie Jack Ivankovic will play for Michigan, while forward Ryker Lee and defenseman Tommy Bleyl play for Michigan State.
The NCAA has become a staple for prospect development in the NHL in recent years, with many of top young talents playing for their development. Its use in the Nashville organization is widespread. Beyond Michigan, the team will have six other prospects playing in the NCAA, including but not limited to: Teddy Stiga, Jacob Rombach and Wyatt Cullen.
Painting the focus back to Michigan, there will be a tightly contested rivalry between the two schools, clashing familiar faces against each other. The Wolverines have strong backend help in Reid and Ivankovic, while the Spartans have explosive offensive talents Lee and Bleyl. It will be exciting to see what the four can do to help their respective teams, especially when matched against each other.
Reid and Ivankovic to command Wolverines' zone
Reid was, and still is, one of the best defensemen from the 2025 draft class. After posting 54 points in his draft year, he returned to captain the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL, and he did not disappoint. in ten less games, he surpassed his previous point total with 56 in 57 games. He helped his team win both the OHL title and the CHL's Memorial Cup. Now heading into his first season of NCAA hockey, Reid has all the tools to thrive, especially when he is playing with Malcolm Spence and Landon DuPont.
Ivankovic proved that a smaller frame doesn't stop him from being an elite goalie. Clocking in at 5-foot-11, 179 pounds, he held his own and led his team to the Frozen Four for an NCAA-leading 29th time. In 35 games with the Wolverines, Ivankovic posted a .921-save percentage and 2.15 goals-against-average with three shutouts. He has the league's fourth highest goalie winning percentage with .773, holding a 25-8-1 record in the crease.
Spartans will heavily rely on Lee, Bleyl for scoring
Lee turned heads in his first season with Michigan State. After transferring to the NCAA from the USHL, hopes were high for the 2025 26th overall pick, but he blew those expectations out of the water. In 35 games, he scored 15 goals and tallied 15 assists for 30 points. He served a crucial role on the team's top six, playing alongside the likes of Porter Martone, Cayden Lindstrom and Charlie Stramel. Now entering his sophomore season, he'll play a crucial role in steering the team's offense as a go-to scorer.
Bleyl is a first-year Spartan. He had a strong rookie campaign with the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League, scoring 13 goals and 81 points in 63 games, leading both the league and CHL in defensive points. He has silky smooth hands and skilled playmaking, which will complement Lee and the Spartan's fast-paced offense. Given that he had time to develop with Lee at Preds Dev Camp earlier this month, the two can potentially have one of the strongest bonds in the locker room, and that could translate well on the ice.
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