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Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grading all 7 picks of Nashville Predators' 2025 draft class from Brady Martin to Daniel Nieminen
According to general manager Barry Trotz, the Nashville Predators accomplished exactly what they wanted with their 2025 draft class. "We did a good job of getting people that had skill, character, and really strong upside," Trotz told reporters June 28 at Bridgestone Arena. "We added a lot to our mix." Advertisement While their top pick, No. 5 overall selection forward Brady Martin, will define the quality of the class, the Predators added six other players: one forward, four defensemen and one goaltender. Here are our grades for all seven players drafted by the Predators at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 27-28. Brady Martin, center (No. 5 overall): B- At face value, Martin is a good pick. But for better or worse, his career will be forever tied to Boston Bruins forward James Hagens and Philadelphia Flyers winger Porter Martone. Trotz electing to pick Martin, an "in your face" physical center, over the offensive upside of Hagens and Martone, was a surprise. It may end up working out, especially if Martin ends up developing into a Sam Bennett type, but it's a risk at No. 5 overall. Advertisement Not for nothing, Martin should have a quick path to Nashville, which could jump-start the team in the short run. MARTIN: Why Nashville Predators' top pick Brady Martin did not attend 2025 NHL Draft Cameron Reid, defenseman (No. 21): B+ On skating ability alone, Cameron Reid is a great pick. The Predators have been stocking up on fleet-of-foot defensemen like Tanner Molendyk, Spencer Stastney and Ryan Ufko, and Reid fits right in that mold. If he continues to develop his puck-handling and offensive vision, we could be looking at a steal of a pick with Reid. The only knock is not opting for a right-handed defenseman, when many good ones were on the board. Hopefully Reid makes that a moot point with a solid NHL career. Ryker Lee, forward (No. 26): B- The Predators don't often place futures bets on offensive forwards. They typically like high-floor, low-ceiling forwards, especially late in the first round. So taking Ryker Lee, who scored 31 goals in the rough-and-tumble USHL, is a gamble on his future as a top-six scorer. It's a breath of fresh air and perhaps a sign of a new draft strategy for Nashville. Advertisement Still, Lee isn't a plug-and-play skater. He'll take time to develop and could end up doing nothing at all in the NHL. His upcoming first season with Michigan State will tell us a lot. Jacob Rombach, defenseman (No. 35): D Rombach isn't a sexy pick and is overvalued at No. 35. The 6-foot-6, 200-pound, left-handed defenseman projects as a shutdown player on the back end with very little offensive upside. Defense-first defensemen are a dying breed, but Rombach will try to survive the species. With other more well-rounded — not to mention right-handed — defensemen like Blake Fiddler and Max Psenicka still on the board, this pick is hard to figure. Jack Ivankovic, goaltender (No. 58): A Even before learning that Jack Ivankovic was a fan of Predators goaltending legend Pekka Rinne, you have to like this pick. Ivankovic has the blend of edgework, tracking ability, confidence and vision that you love to see in a modern NHL goalie. Under the tutelage of his role model Rinne, goalie coach Ben Vanderklok and director of goaltending Mitch Korn, Ivankovic has a chance to prove himself a steal in the second round. Advertisement Ivankovic will play for the Michigan Wolverines next season and show what he's capable of. BRANTFORD, CANADA - JANUARY 15: Jack Ivankovic of the Brampton Steelheads makes a save against Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit during the game between the OHL East and OHL West conferences during the Connor McDavid OHL Top Prospects Game at Brantford & District Civic Centre on January 15, 2025 in Brantford, Canada. (Photo by) Alex Huang, defenseman (No. 122): A The Predators make up for the Rombach pick with swift-skating Alex Huang of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the QMJHL. He's a highly effective puck-moving defenseman, adept at getting the puck up the ice on his own or with passing. While probably a long-term project, he has the potential to be a second-unit power-play quarterback type. Also, finally, a right-handed defenseman to add to their pool. Daniel Nieminen, defenseman (No. 163): C Another good skater, Daniel Nieminen is an overage player as a 19-year-old. He had limited production for the Lahti Pelicans in the Finnish Elite League last season — only four goals and seven assists in 39 games — but he was playing against adults as an 18-year-old. With some work, he could develop into a fringe NHL player. Advertisement ESTES: The Nashville Predators do have a type, and draft pick Brady Martin was it Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@ Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Grading all 7 selections of Nashville Predators' 2025 draft class
CTV News
a day ago
- Sport
- CTV News
NHL Draft: Predators select Cameron Reid, Kings grab Henry Brzustewicz in round one
Cameron Reid, left, stands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being drafted by the Nashville Predators during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Source: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) The Nashville Predators wanted Cameron Reid so badly, they traded up two picks in the first round of the NHL Draft to get him. With the Ottawa Senators on the clock, the Predators sent picks 23 and 67 to move up and select Reid, a Kitchener Rangers defenceman from Copenhagen, Ont. just south of Aylmer. 'Just having your dream come true,' Reid told media after being selected. 'I mean, that's literally it. Ever since I can remember from being a kid, and for every single day, I thought about this day leading up to it. For it to be here, it's something I definitely will never forget.' We heard Cameron Reid already loves his new city 👀 — Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) June 28, 2025 Reid scored 14 goals and 54 points with Kitchener of the OHL last season. He's never seen a game in Nashville but has been to the city. 'I can guarantee my mom is looking forward to the country music,' Reid said on the broadcast after being chosen. 'It's an amazing city, I've been there once before. I love the city, loved everything about it. I've heard only great things about the hockey there and the NP themselves. I'm pumped to get going there.' The Predators will hold their development camp from June 29 to July 5 in Nashville. Ten picks later, the London Knights continued their streak of having at least one player picked in every NHL draft since 1969. Henry Brzustewicz heard his name called by the Los Angeles Kings at pick number 31. NHL Hockey Draft Henry Brzustewicz, left, stands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being drafted by the Los Angeles Kings during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Source: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) (Damian Dovarganes/AP) 'I had really good conversations with them and then the whole week here has been really great, to be picked by them is really special,' Brzustewicz said in his post-draft media conference. He was selected by the same team as his Knight teammate Jared Woolley. Getting drafted to the same team as your best friend >>>> — LA Kings (@LAKings) June 28, 2025 'We're best friends, he was sitting in the row right in front of me, so sharing that moment with him was really special,' said Brzustewicz. The Kings decided to trade down to be able to acquire a second-round pick in the draft but liked Brzustewicz at pick 31. 'We got a player that was on our list of players we liked,' said Kings GM Ken Holland. 'He's a defenceman who shoots right. He comes from a real good program in London. They have had a great track record of developing players into NHL players. Our guys have seen a lot of him and we're excited to get Henry.' Round two of the NHL Draft begins Saturday.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
St. Louis Blues NHL Draft guide: Picks, best fits and analysis
The St. Louis Blues have three picks in the 2025 NHL Draft: Nos. 19, 147, 179. Here's what to expect. If the Blues keep the No. 19 pick, they feel confident they can get a quality center or defensive prospect. They would be ecstatic if the options included center Cole Reschny or defensemen Cameron Reid or Logan Hensler. Advertisement 'There's probably two or three different tranches of elite players, and then you go down,' Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. 'At 19, we think there's a good tier of players there that we can get.' If the Blues decided to trade down from the No. 19 pick, they could gain another draft pick in the deal. They are entering the night with just three selections, so the additional capital would be welcome. — Jeremy Rutherford I thought defense was the Blues' biggest need going into the last draft, and they picked defenders with each of their first three picks. They have a great center prospect in Dalibor Dvorsky, but it falls off after him, and there isn't much coming at center otherwise. In recent mock drafts, Corey Pronman has projected the following picks: 19. Cameron Reid, D 147. Everett Baldwin, D 179. Jake Crawford, C (Photo of Blues GM Doug Armstrong: Jeff Vinnick / NHLI via Getty Images)
