While the Americans took the spotlight of the showcase, let's give our attention to Team Canada for this segment. A total of four Predators suited up in the red and white; let's check them out.
Brady Martin looked strong, but struggled when needed most
Last season we saw Brady Martin take home the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) captaincy and leadership award (Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy), and he continued his leadership this summer, wearing an A on his jersey in his first game. He showcased his deep toolkit, consistently flashing his tough-to-beat defensive skills on and off the puck.
He was held off the scoresheet, which definitely worried me a bit, but again he only played two games. He took two minor penalties, including one for slashing against USA which is slightly alarming, but again, that game was a tough one. He has everything to become a talented NHL player, but he just needs to find that consistency to remain that way. When he is locked in, he can be the best player on the ice, using his stick and body in all areas of the ice.
Cameron Reid continued to be the elite defenseman he was in the OHL
Like Martin, Cameron Reid continued to be a leader in the locker room, serving as both the captain of his OHL squad, and alternate captain in both of his games with Canada. He has excellent hockey IQ and is almost always in the best possible places to be on the ice. He is exceptionable at ending opposing plays and even better are starting his own.
One thing Reid could work on in his time in college is his speed. He'll be forced to play against older and much faster opponents in the NCAA, so with proper training, he should reach that pace in no time. Catalina also brought up the importance of developing chemistry with a guy like Jack Ivankovic. Since they'll together at Michigan and potentially in Nashville, it'll be in both their best interests to get a good idea of what each other's flaws are and work around them together.
Jack Ivankovic didn't play much, but got much deserved recognition
One thing I found absolutely funny, but also comforting, was the level of appreciation people were giving Jack Ivankovic. Looking back at the broadcasts, we can constantly hear the commentators praising Ivankovic, despite him not even playing in the game they were commentating. There isn't much to be said about him due to the lack of icetime, but that can be attributed to the fact that, like Catalina said in her report, he is a starting goalie lock for the 2027 World Juniors.
Alex Huang proved why he is a hidden gem in Nashville system
Alex Huang was the only Canadian Predators prospect to register a point in the showcase, tallying an assist against Finland to help them come back for the win. He is really smart with the puck, passing it out at the perfect moments to create plays. He looked fabulous as the power play quarterback, which means big things for the future of the Predators special teams. Having multiple quarterback-type players in the lineup means several strong power play lines.
One weakness that Catalina pointed out was his lack of strength at times. As a smaller defender (6-foot, 181 pounds), he sometimes lost crucial battles close to the net, but like in Reid's and Bleyl's case, a couple years in college can help him adjust to the size difference that he'll see in the NHL.
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