At the start of the 2024-25 season, the Nashville Predators didn't think they'd be in a position to have nine draft picks, one of them being in the top five. 

They were fresh off their fourth playoff appearance in five years and had just signed two of the top free agents in the market: Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos. 

However, a 30-44-8 record in the 2024-25 season suddenly put Nashville in a position to look toward the future, specifically needing more depth down the middle. 

At the 2025 NHL Draft, the Predators drafted six players: four defenseman, a winger, a goalie and a center. They also traded away five picks, two of which were for future considerations. 

With all that has conspired over the last two days, here are three takeaways from the Predators' transactions in Los Angeles. 

Nashville Predators 2025 NHL Draft transactions 

Round 1, Pick 5 - Brady Martin, Center, Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 

*Traded 23rd and 67th picks to Ottawa Senators for 21st pick

Round 1, Pick 21 - Cameron Reid, Defense, Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 

Round 1, Pick 26 - Ryker Lee, Forward, Madison Capitols (USHL) 

Round 2, Pick 35 - Jacob Rombach, Defense, Lincoln Stars (USHL) 

*Traded 55th pick to Vegas Golden Knights for 58th and 122nd picks 

Round 2, Pick 58 - Jack Ivankovic, Goalie, Brampton Steelheads (OHL) 

Round 4, Pick 122 - Alex Huang, Defense, Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) 

*Traded 131st pick to Edmonton Oilers for 2026 fifth round pick 

Round 6, Pick 163 - Daniel Nieminen, Defense, Pelicans (SM-liiga, Finland) 

*Traded 182nd pick to Utah Mammoth for 2026 sixth round pick 

Trotz believed Martin had an 'it' factor, drafting him over Hagens, Martone 

Fans were left a bit confused when the Predators selected 6-foot, 178-pound center Brady Martin. Nashville needed a center, but more so on the scoring end of things than anything else. 

While Martin had 72 points in 57 games with the Soo Greyhounds, he also had 68 penalty minutes, showing a more physical side to his game than an offensive one.

The Predators picked him over Boston College center James Hagens, who had 37 points in 37 games, and Porter Martone, who is a winger but had a whopping 98 points in 57 games. 

However, general manager Barry Trotz explained that Martin had an "it" factor that you don't see in many players. 

"A guy shows up and has all those intangibles, the work ethic, all those things," Trotz said. "There are not a lot of things that are going to get in this guy's way. We had some tough decisions, but there was total passion on this pick...He's got that whatever it is." 

Trotz added that Martin will set a tone of competing for a roster spot when training camp arrives. 

"I definitely want to try and crack that roster if I can," Martin said. "If I don't, it's meant to be. I'll go back to the Greyhounds, work hard and try to crack the [Predators] roster as soon as I can." 

Predators had trade for top 12 pick that 'fell through'

There was so much chatter ahead of the chat about the number of trades there'd be in the top 15. There was only one, with the Flyers trading up to get the Rangers' pick at 12th overall. 

However, that doesn't mean teams didn't try to make that happen. Trotz told the NHL Network that he was on the phone for picks 7-18, trying to orchestrate a trade for a top-12 pick.

Nashville didn't end up getting a second top 15 pick of the night, but was able to trade up to 21st overall and land defenseman Cameron Reid.

"I actually had a deal and our player fell through," Trotz told NHL Network. "We were trying to get another player in the top 12, 13 picks. We had the deal in place, and one team grabbed the player, and we had to move on." 

It's speculated that this player may have been Brandon Wheat Kings center Roger McQueen, who was one of the prospects forecasted to be taken at 5th overall. He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks 10th overall. 

He's a tall center who is coming back from injury and showed a lot of promise in the few games he played. 

Predators drafted 4 defensemen despite need for scoring

The Predators scored the fewest goals in the league last season, with 130, which is 10 fewer than the second-worst scoring team in the NHL, the Ottawa Senators. 

Nashville had a ton of success scoring on the power play, ranking seventh in the league, but as a cohesive unit, it struggled to find the back of the net. With there being a need to score, the Predators selected only two forwards in the draft, both in the first round.

It's possible that the Predators believe their offense just needs to find its rhythm or will make some signings by July 1, but the Predators remain committed to the idea that they are a team composed of big and physical players.

"It is called Smashville, correct?" Trotz said when asked about the Predators being known as a team that is big and physical.

Nashville didn't shy away from drafting "big" players. Defenseman Jacob Rombach is 6 feet 6 inches, and five of the other draft picks are at least 6 feet tall. Goalie Jack Ivankovic is the exception, at 5-foot-11-inches.

When it comes to the physical factor, the draft picks averaged 30 penalty minutes, with Martin leading the way with 68 minutes. Even Ivankovic got into a goalie fight this season in the OHL. 

Denver, Colo. - While they might not have had as many draft picks as the Pittsburgh Penguins (13!), the Colorado Avalanche still made the most of their three picks in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Francesco Dell'Elce, Linus Funck, and Nolan Roed all had their life-changing dreams come true on Saturday as they were drafted in the 3rd, 4th, and 7th rounds, respectively. But... How did the Avalanche only have three picks?

Fun fact: They only had two - up until Friday afternoon.

Their 3rd round pick (77th overall) came by way of the Columbus Blue Jackets in a trade that saw the departure of Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood. With zero salary retained on both of those players, the Avalanche received forward prospect Gavin Brindley, a conditional 2nd-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and the 3rd-round pick that turned into Francesco Dell'Elce on Saturday.

Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood Traded to Columbus Blue Jackets, Colorado Avalanche Get Picks and Prospect Gavin Brindley in ReturnDenver, Colo. - With just $1.2 million in cap space, the Colorado Avalanche were slated to head into this year's free agency period with a bit of a handicap.

Francesco Dell'Elce

• Drafted: 2025, 3rd round, 77th overall by the Colorado Avalanche
• Age: 20 (June 23, 2005)
• Birthplace: King City, Ontario, Canada
• Position: Defense
• Shoots: Left
• Height: 6'1" / 185 cm
• Weight: 185 lbs / 84 kg

Based on the average of prominent scouting rankings, Dell'Elce was ranked ~96th among draft-eligible prospects.

With their 3rd round, 77th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Colorado Avalanche have selected Francesco Dell'Elce, a 20-year-old defenseman from Ontario.

In his freshman year at UMass last year, he tallied 24 points (7g/17a) in 40 GP.

Via Elite Prospects: "Dell’Elce’s an…

— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) June 28, 2025

Linus Funck

• Drafted: 2025, 4th Round, 118th overall by the Colorado Avalanche
• Age: 18 (May 10, 2007)
• Birthplace: Luleå, Sweden
• Position: Defense
• Shoots: Right
• Height: 6'3" / 190 cm
• Weight: 183 lbs / 83 kg

Based on the average of prominent scouting rankings, Funck was ranked 109th among draft-eligible prospects.

With their 4th round, 118th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Avalanche select Linus Funck, an 18-year-old defenseman from Luleå, Sweden.

With Luleå HF J20 last season, he collected 28 points (5g/23a) in 48 GP.

From Elite Prospects: "Funck uses his reach to kill rushes…

— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) June 28, 2025

Nolan Roed

• Drafted: 2025, 7th Round, 214th overall by the Colorado Avalanche
• Age: 19 (October 25, 2005)
• Birthplace: White Bear Lake, Minnesota, USA
• Position: Center
• Shoots: Left
• Height: 5'11" / 180 cm
• Weight: 185 lbs / 84 kg

Based on the average of prominent scouting rankings, Roed was ranked 164th among draft-eligible prospects.

With their 7th round, 214th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, their final pick in this draft, the Colorado Avalanche have selected Nolan Roed, a 19-year-old center from White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Last season with the USHL's Tri-City Storm, he collected 60 points (27g/33a) in…

— Bailey Curtis (@baileyycurtis) June 28, 2025

More Information From Draft Day

Per Avalanche Director of Amateur Scouting Nick Pryor following the draft, Funck and Roed are still question marks regarding their attendance at Prospect Development Camp starting on Tuesday, July 1st, but Dell'Elce is expected to be there.

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The New York Rangers may have not had a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but the team was able to get first-round talent with the 43rd overall pick. 

Many NHL analysts predicted Malcolm Spence would be selected in the first round, but he slid all the way to the 43rd pick where the New York Rangers sat and they did not hesitate to draft him. 

“Malcolm is an excellent winger, power play, PK (penalty kill), plays the game the right way,” Rangers director of player personnel John Lilley said. “He doesn't cheat the game. We’ve valued him for a few years now… I think he was projected to go quite a bit higher, so when the opportunity presented itself, we were thrilled to get him in that spot, and we think he's got a lot of potential and a high character player.”

The 18-year-old has made a name for himself playing for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League over the past two seasons. 

This past season, Spence served as the team’s assistant captain and had an impressive statistical season, recording 32 goals, 41 assists, and 73 points in 65 games. 

Despite the high speculation that Spence would be drafted in the first round, teams passed up on him for whatever reason. 

However, his fall out of the draft’s opening round did not discourage him and he’s excited to prove the Rangers right instead of proving other teams wrong. 

“I think kind of when you have expectations for yourself, and obviously there's expectations from the media and whatnot of where I was going to get picked, but for me, obviously I believe in myself, and just really I didn't get picked yesterday, I kind of changed my mindset right after and said, ‘well, tomorrow's a new day, and you're in a situation that not a lot of people are in.’ So for me, it was New York's first pick, and I have some family out there, and it worked out really well,” said Spence.

“I'm really excited that they took a chance on me and believed in me when a lot of the other people didn't. So I'm really excited to get to New York City and get to work.”

The next stop for Spence will be at the University of Michigan where he’ll play at one of the best collegiate hockey programs in the country. 

Rangers Select Forward Malcolm Spence In Second Round With 43rd Pick The New York Rangers have selected left winger Malcolm Spence with the 43rd overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft. 

While Spence has a lot of natural skill sets, he knows that there’s still a long way to go before he gets to an NHL level both in terms of his body development and transformation as a player. 

He strongly believes he’ll be able to accomplish all of his development goals at Michigan in order to be properly prepared for the NHL and the challenges that come with being a professional hockey player.

“I know to play in the NHL, you have to be physically ready,” Spence said. “Maybe there are parts of my game skill-wise that may be ready, but physically I’m not. I know going to Michigan is going to give me more runway time. For me to jump in as an impact player, that’s what I want to do.”

Spence is likely a couple of years away before he could possibly crack the Rangers’ roster, but the potential is certainly there and he has a chance to make a major impact in the future.

The Buffalo Sabres made a trade Saturday, but it wasn't the trade many were expecting, as star defenseman Bowen Byram remained a Sabre, at least, for the time being. However, Sabres GM Kevyn Adams reshaped his defense corps by sending rugged blueliner Connor Clifton and the 39th-overall pick in this year's draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for D-man Conor Timmins and minor leaguer Isaac Beliveau. 

At first glance -- and at second, third and fourth glance, for that matter -- the trade was a salary dump, as Clifton had one year left on his contract at $3.33 million, while Timmins is an RFA who won't earn much more than the  $1.1 million he made this past season.  But if people are expecting Timmins to be an impact player of any kind, they probably haven't been paying attention to him as he developed into a journeyman defenseman.

The 26-year-old Timmins has played for four teams -- the Colorado Avalanche, Arizona Coyotes, Toronto Maple Leafs and the Penguins -- in his five NHL seasons. Timmins averaged a career-best 18:43 of ice time in 17 games with Pittsburgh last season, but prior to that, he played about 16 minutes per game, almost exclusively on his team's third 'D' pairing. And now that he's a Sabre, you can expect Timmins to once again be a third-pair blueliner.

Indeed, after Buffalo's trade earlier this week that sent star winger J.J. Peterka to Utah for young winger Josh Doan and D-man Michael Kesselring, the Sabres' top-two defense pairings appear to be set. Star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Mattias Samuelsson are set to be the top pair, while Owen Power and Kesselring are set to be the second pair. That leaves the third pair to Timmins and...well, we're not quite certain of the other D-man.

That said, Sabres fans need to temper their expectations of their newest defenseman. Timmins had a career-high of two goals and 14 points in 25 games with the Maple Leafs in 2022-23, and he's not likely to pile up points and take up room on the scoresheet anytime soon. If he's playing big minutes for your team, it's likely more to do with injuries to the defensemen ahead of him on the depth chart than it is about him having any merit to be promoted above the third pair.

Sabres Blockbuster Trade With Utah Sends Disgruntled Winger To Mammoth For Defensive Depth, Son Of NHL IconAfter watching teams around them make major moves already in the NHL's 2025 off-season, the Buffalo Sabres made a blockbuster deal of their own late Wednesday night, sending disgruntled winger J.J. Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for young winger Josh Doan and defenseman Michael Kesserling. And immediately after Peterka was acquired by Utah, he signed a five-year contract extensipn with an average annual payday of $7.7 million. That's something Peterka wouldn't do with the Sabres, and that's an unfortunate comment on where Buffalo is at as an organization right now.

Most NHL observers are expecting Buffalo to trade Byram sometime soon. But if and when that happens, it's not going to open up additional oppportunities for Timmins. He's a Sabre because his salary cap hit fits in with Adams' expectations for the blueline, and many people are expecting Adams to eventually use the cap space he's accumulated in the Peterka trade and the Timmins trade on a veteran of consequence.

Because if Adams doesn't do that, and this Clifton/Timmins trade is just a deal to save money and keep Buffalo's financial bottom line as cheap as it can be, Sabres fans are not going to react well. As we've argued repeatedly, Buffalo is a team that should be spending every penny they have available under the cap ceiling. The time to cut costs was long ago, and now, it's the time to utilize the cap space they've accumulated.

As Division Rivals Make Big Moves, Sabres Are Still Making Minor MovesThe Buffalo Sabres made a notable trade this week with the trading of winger J.J. Peterka. But the return on the deal for Peterka -- defenseman Michael Kesselring and winger Josh Doan -- isn't exactly earth-shattering. The Sabres also made news Friday afternoon with the re-signing of center Jack Quinn to a two-year, $6.75-million contract extension; but Quinn isn't yet a top-six forward at this stage in his NHL career, so news of his contract extension didn't garner a lot of headlines.

So whatever you do, don't place any bets on Timmins being an impact player. If he lasts the whole season in Buffalo, some will be surprised, as he's worn out his welcome on every team he's played for. 

If you see Timmins eating up minor minutes with the Sabres and being limited in the chances that he gets, that's the proper way to see him. And if you're expecting Adams to trade Byram for some veteran help up front, that's the proper expectation to have for Buffalo management at this point in the off-season.

The Sabres have been taking small swings at the plate on the trade front, and it's well beyond time for them to swing for the fences. And acquiring Timmins is almost the dictionary definition of a small swing.

At every NHL draft, countless talented hockey players go undrafted.

Oftentimes, teams have their list of players, and they didn’t get to a player further down the list. Other times, a player may be undersized, and it’s a long shot that they reach the NHL. Sometimes, it’s simply that teams overlooked them during the draft year. 

Regardless of the reason, some of these players will bounce back and put themselves in the conversation the way Charlie Cerrato or Ludvig Johnson did this year. As we take a look at some of the top names to go unselected, remember that we may see them get their name called at the 2026 NHL draft. 

Topias Hynninen, C, Jukurit (Finland)

One of the top overage names in this year’s NHL draft, Hynninen produced at an impressive level in the Liiga this year as he became one of his team’s most important players. He was consistently involved in driving their offensive game. He may be undersized at 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, but he’s a highly intelligent player who’s proven he can play at the men’s level as a teenager. Now that he’s been passed over twice, maybe he signs as a 24-year-old to join an NHL club. 

Luka Radivojevic, D, Muskegon (USHL)

The shifty, skilled and highly mobile defender went undrafted because he’s small. At just 5-foot-10 on the blueline and a defensive game that was questionable at best, it’s not entirely shocking, but I thought some team would draft him late as a project. His puck-moving and offensive instincts were on display at the World Men’s Under-18s. Radivojevic might end up being a name we hear from again next year. 

Lev Katzin, C/W, Guelph (OHL)

He’s small, but he’s incredibly feisty, and his playmaking was impressive in the OHL. Katzin started the year in the United States League but jumped to the OHL as the eligibility rules changed regarding the NCAA. His production at the OHL level was impressive with 48 points in 44 games. He’s active at both ends of the ice, never stops moving his feet and seems to understand he has to outwork his physical limitations. He’ll head to Penn State in the fall and could be a coveted NCAA free agent in a few years.

Matej Pekar, C/LW, Seattle (WHL)

A personal favorite of mine, Pekar was a bet on skill and intellect. He played with impeccable timing, consistently popping into zones right as the puck arrived or swooping in to scoop up a loose puck. Pekar played with a swiftness that saw him excel as an off-puck play connector. He wasn’t ever the best on the ice, but he helped make his linemates' lives easier in a very understated way in the WHL.

Bruno Osmanis, RW, Bjorkloven (Swe.2)

A late-2006 born forward, Osmanis has stood out for Latvia in international events over the past couple of years. That usually bodes well for players from smaller nations, but unfortunately for Osmanis, he didn’t have his name called this weekend. He’s an intelligent playmaker who reads and reacts quite well. He’s always been able to elevate his game against better competition at events like the world juniors or U-18s. 

Nicolas Sykora, LW, Sioux City (USHL)

After a solid Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Sykora had a slow start with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers and eventually found his footing in Sioux City. He is a crafty puckhandler with a very good shot. He’s not big or bruising, but he can throw his weight around at times. When he’s on his game, he is intense and driven to get pucks on net. Consistency was his big issue.

NHL Draft: Boston Bruins Steal James Hagens In 'A Dream Come True'LOS ANGELES – The Boston Bruins pulled off a great feat at the 2025 NHL draft: they got a super-talented player lower than expected, while adding another chapter to the rivalry between Boston sports fans and New York sports fans by snapping up center James Hagens.

Carson Cameron, D, Peterborough (OHL)

A defense-first blueliner, Cameron doesn’t blow the doors off with the puck. He cuts play down, seals off the opposing player along the wall and battles through opposing puck carriers. His play isn’t flashy, but it’s effective. He played for one of the OHL’s bottom-dwellers, but he always found ways to show something positive.  

Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen, D, Univ. of Michigan (NCAA)

Another defensive defenseman, Rheaume-Mullen was an NCAA freshman this season. He played a sound defensive game with solid gap control and incredible mobility. There’s a good base of physical tools to work with, and he should have been drafted, but people will keep an eye on the defender going into next season. An expanded role on a very good NCAA team will be something to watch.

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The Washington Capitals announced they have traded defenseman Chase Priskie and the 123rd pick in the NHL draft to the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Declan Chisholm and the 180th pick in the draft. 

Priskie recorded 35 points in 61 game with the Hershey Bears in the regular season before adding five points in eight games in the Calder Cup Playoffs. 

The 29-year-old notched 14 points in 20 games while helping the Bears win back-to-back Calder Cups last season, he played big minutes and powerplay time during the run. 

A native of Pembroke Pines, Fla., Priskie has no points in four career NHL games with the Florida Panthers and 164 points in 314 career AHL games. He also has 20 points in 35 career AHL playoff games. 

It will be interesting to see if Priskie sees any time with Minnesota or if he will anchor the Iowa Wild blueline. 

NEWS | The Washington Capitals have acquired defenseman Declan Chisholm and the 180th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft from the Minnesota Wild for defenseman Chase Priskie and their 123rd overall selection.#CapsDraft | @Shift4pic.twitter.com/tW7utPaZYn

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) June 28, 2025

Chisholm put up 12 points in 66 games with Minnesota this season, he had five points in six AHL games with the Manitoba Moose last season. 

The 25-year-old has 21 points in 99 career NHL games and 91 points in 146 career AHL games. He has 11 points in 10 career AHL playoff games. 

He represented the Central Division at the AHL All-Star Game while a member of the Moose in 2023. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.    

Photo Credit: © Travis Boyd/Special to the Daily News / USA TODAY NETWORK

After a 2025 NHL Draft in which they picked four centers, the Vancouver Canucks have acquired yet another. They traded for the rights to Chicago Blackhawks forward Ilya Safonov, with future considerations going the other way. Safonov was picked in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft and had not been signed by the Blackhawks. 

Safonov, a 6'4 left-shot center, has played with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL since the 2019-20 season. In total, he has played in 263 games for the team, scoring 49 goals and 46 assists in this span of time. This includes a 19-goal, 18-assist season back in 2022-23. In 2024-25, Safonov scored seven goals and 15 assists in 51 games. He is expected to return to the KHL for the 2025-26 season, meaning he may not suit up for the Canucks in the next year or so. 

Aside from his time with Ak Bars, Safonov has also represented Russia at the IIHF U20 World Junior Championships. He skated in seven games with his country's team back in the 2020-21 season, scoring two goals in the team's fourth-place effort. 

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Safonov joins a group of centers that suddenly ballooned within the span of two days. 2025 NHL Draft selections Braeden Cootes, Kieren Dervin, Wilson Björck, and Matthew Lansing are all centers as well. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.