We are one day away from the 2026 NHL Draft, and for the Nashville Predators, it's a big one.
Now under the new management of Chris MacFarland, the Predators seem to be shifting directions. After trading away first-round forwards Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux to the Colorado Avalanche, things just got a whole lot complicated. He's letting the team know that if you don't fit the system, you won't be in the system.
Looking into the draft, there are a handful of young players that pique the interest of both the Preds scouts and its fanbase. With the team most likely drafting a center with its first pick, let's have some fun and go over who the best player to draft is at every position, considering only the ones that are most likely available at 10th overall.
LW: Wyatt Cullen
Wyatt Cullen is the perfect fit at wing. The 6-foot-1, 181-pound winger is an excellent puck-mover, dangling the puck through defenders with precision and skating up the ice with speed. For a team like the Predators, he is a top-six lock. He has good hands, with some saying he mirrors Trevor Zegras and Jack Hughes.
He also holds a Nashville connection. His father, Matt Cullen played two seasons with the Predators. While we aren't in the Barry Trotz organization, where acquiring pieces within the organization's name was common, it would be a nice touch.
C: Tynan Lawrence
Even though I call Cullen a perfect fit on wing, that doesn't mean he's the perfect fit for the team. That title goes to Tynan Lawrence. An elite two-way center with high upside. Thanks to rough start at Boston University, scoring seven points in 18 games, his draft stock is dropping, but that shouldn't be a worry for the Predators.
He is a versatile forward, opting to also play on the wing if needed. He has high hockey IQ and is a good puck battler. Lawrence drives the play with speed, and if surrounded by Brady Martin, Matthew Wood and Luke Evangelista, him and the team would thrive tremendously.
RW: Ethan Belchetz
On the right side, Ethan Belchetz is another reliable option. Standing at an astounding 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, he makes his way through the play with ease. His height allows him to reach pucks in areas most can't, making him excellent at pushing the play up the ice. For a team that entertains the physical player market, it just makes sense to draft him.
He has a similar archetype to Brady Tkachuk, combining consistent scoring with grit. Defenders struggle to keep up with him, and he often goes unnoticed on the ice, but in a good way. Despite his huge frame, he sneaks past everyone and will find a way to get to the net just in time to score.
D: Daxon Rudolph
The Predators are pretty loaded on the left side of the prospect blueline with the likes of Cameron Reid, Tanner Molendyk and Jacob Rombach. On the right side, however, there isn't too much, with it mainly just being Andrew Gibson. Daxon Dudolph would quickly change that. The offensive defenseman has one of the best skating skills among all players in his draft class. Think a Ryan Ufko, but younger and bigger.
Rudolph stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 206 pounds. He'll lay a hit every now and then, but its his offense that keeps scouts hooked. He can be a power play quarterback for any team and find scoring lanes that most players don't. If defense is the way to go, Rudolph is the best player to go after.
G: Brady Knowling
This is in no way the correct player to go after with the 10th overall pick, but for funsies let's take a look at a goalie. Brady Knowling is the top ranked NA goalie in this year's draft class, and for good reason. For starters, he's a staggering 6-foot-5 and 208 pounds. If you need a goalie to block the net completely, by all means rely on Knowling.
Projected to go in the second round, he is somebody the Predators could snag later. He had a rough 2025-26 campaign, failing to average over a .900-save percentage. His performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup was a completely different story, posting a .914 SV% and 2.35-goals-against average. If MacFarland wants to build a "big" future in net alongside Jack Ivankovic, Knowling wouldn't be a bad pickup.
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