The first draft for the Nashville Predators new front office will be an important one as they signal a new direction for the team, but also one where they can take a risk.
The Predators have a ton of former 1st round picks in their talent pool. Brady Martin, Ryker Lee, Cameron Reid, Fedor Svechkov, Yegor Surin, Ozzy Wiesblatt, Matthew Wood, Joakim Kemell, Zachary L'Heureux, Reid Schaefer, and Tanner Molendyk are all either NHL regulars, young pros, or prospects getting ready to make the jump. This team has a young core, but they're missing a big defender. Every player listed other than Reid and Molendyk are forwards, and those two aren't big defenders by any stretch.
That's why in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Nashville Predators should take a very serious look at Malte Gustafsson.
Gustafsson posed to be the next Mattias Ekholm
Gustafsson is a 6'4", 200-pound 17-year-old Swedish defenseman who played in both the Swedish Junior Hockey League and the pros in the Swedish Hockey League last year. He finished ranked 7th among European skaters in the NHL's Central Scouting rankings.
Even before you talk about his game, his size jumps off the page. He's a big kid, and he's still literally just a kid. He'll just get stronger as he gets older and is likely going to add more weight to his frame. He plays to his size as well, being aggressive and physical without taking away from his defense. He uses his size and intelligence to beat opponents.
He's got really good mobility, but his offensive skills need the finishing touches of another year or two. His shot can and will improve with time, and the flow of the North American game will help him become a more NHL-capable passer. As those skills grow, his play on the offensive side of the red line will pick up, but those are certainly developmental elements that would need to be watched.
Gustafsson fits in with what you could imagine the Predators' defense could look like in a few years. Players like Ryan Ufko, Tanner Molendyk, and Cameron Reid will be driving the offense and are all in the 6-foot range. Nicolas Hague will be under contract and handle the defensive side of things, and then Roman Josi and Brady Skjei. Both are veterans with big contracts, but how much do they have left?
A player like Gustafsson is going to have a longer development. He's big and sturdy, but still has to adjust to North American hockey. Right now, he's playing for one of the weaker Swedish programs, so when he does come over, he's going to have a big adjustment. The good news is that in international competition, he's done very well. In the U-18 competition across 16 games, he had 12 points.
A player like Gustafsson becomes a cornerstone defender. Mattias Ekholm is this kind of player. The Predators haven't had someone who could do what he can since he left. Malte Gustafsson might just be the guy who will finally fill those skates.
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