The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!
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Be sure to check out the Nashville Predators team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/nashville-predators/
To view past 32s go here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/
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After making a major splash in 2024 free agency by signing Steven Stamkos (4 years, $32 million), Jonathan Marchessault (5 years, $27.5 million), and Brady Skjei (7 years, $49 million), the Nashville Predators skated in one of the most disappointing NHL seasons in recent memory. They finished 30-44-8 with a minus 60 goals rating, the third worst mark in the NHL. It’s a brand-new league year and the Predators are ready to wipe the slate clean for the 2025-26 season.
GM Barry Trotz acquired 34-year-old forward Erik Haula from New Jersey to add to a veteran forward crew featuring Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, Marchessault, and Stamkos. Younger skaters, such as Zach L’Heureux (five goals in 62 games) and Fydor Svechkov (eight goals in 52 games), should have another opportunity to play significant minutes for the Predators.
Nic Hague was added to the blue line in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights that sent out a pair of veterans with one-year left on their contracts, Jeremy Lauzon and Colton Sissons. Nick Perbix was added in free agency to join Roman Josi, Skjei, and Hague to form a strong top four unit in Tennessee.
Juuse Saros and Justus Annunen will return as the goalie tandem looking to bring catfish-flying playoff action back to Bridgestone Arena.
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NHL Draft Recap
Round 1, 5 overall: Brady Martin, Center
Martin is a physical force down the middle of the ice and hits everything that moves in an opposing sweater. When he has the puck on his stick, the 6-0 center has a never-ending inventory of slick stickhandling moves to generate scoring chances for himself or his teammates.
Martin should have the chance to make the Predators out of training camp as the center brings an element that should delight head coach Andrew Brunette. If the pivot is returned to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), it will be to the Soo Greyhounds where he recorded 72 points in 57 games during his draft-eligible season.
Round 1, 20 overall: Cameron Reid, Defense (LHD)
The Predators moved up two spots in the first round to acquire Reid, a smooth-skating two-way defenseman. In his second OHL season with the Kitchener Rangers, the 6-0 blueliner registered 54 points in 67 games. Reid does everything well defensively but could use more consistency on the offensive side of the ice. With a veteran defense core in Nashville, another OHL season with Kitchener could prove beneficial for Reid.
Round 1, 26 overall: Ryker Lee, Winger
Lee was a dominant force for the Madison Capitols of the United States Hockey League (USHL) during his draft eligible season. He scored 31 goals and registered 68 points in 58 games as he surged to the USHL Rookie of the Year award. The teenager needs more consistency as he transitions to Michigan State in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for the 2025-26 season.
Round 2, 35 overall: Jacob Rombach, Defense (LHD)
Rombach is a massive 6-6 blueliner that had many scouts excited entering his draft year. He recorded 17 points in 57 games for the Lincoln Stars (USHL) in the 2024-25 season before being selected early in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft. The defensive blueliner is committed to the University of Minnesota (NCAA) for the 2025-26 season.
Round 2, 58 overall: Jack Ivankovic, Goalie
Projected as one of the top draft-eligible goalies, Ivankovic is undersized but has showcased elite athleticism often during his amateur career, often a critical time on the international stage for Team Canada’s Under-18 teams over the past two seasons. The 6-0 goalie posted a 25-12-5 season with a 3.05 goals-against average (GAA) and a .903 save percentage (SV%) for the Brampton Steelheads (OHL) in 2024-25. Ivankovic is committed to the University of Michigan (NCAA) for the 2025-26 campaign.
Round 4, 122 overall: Alex Huang, Defense (RHD)
Huang has recorded a pair of consistent seasons for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The 6-foot defenseman registered 36 points in 61 games in 2023-24, before a slight uptick to 40 points in 64 games in 2024-25. Huang will bring his mobility and puck-moving talents to Harvard University (NCAA) for the 2025-26 season.
Round 6, 163 overall: Daniel Nieminen, Defense (LHD)
A mobile, two-way defender, Nieminen registered 11 points in 39 games for the Pelicans during his first Liiga season after quickly rising through the Pelicans U18 and U20 divisions as a teenager. The 6-foot blueliner is expected to return to Finland for the 2025-26 season.
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Off-Season Moves
Incoming
Erik Haula, LW – $3.15 million / 1 year remaining [UFA in 2026]
Nic Hague, D – $5.5 million / 4 years remaining [UFA in 2029]
Nick Perbix, D – $2.75 million / 2 years remaining [UFA in 2027]
Outgoing
Jermey Lauzon, D – $2 million / 1 year remaining [UFA in 2026]
Colton Sissons, C – $2.85 million / 1 year remaining [UFA in 2026]
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In the System
Risers
Tanner Molendyk, D – Molendyk split time between Saskatoon (21 points in 21 games) and Medicine Hat (26 points in 28 games) in his draft-plus one season. The Memorial Cup experience with the Tigers provided invaluable learning experience despite the loss. Molendyk is well positioned as a “next man up” for the Predators unless they would prefer to the left-handed blueliner to spend a full season in the AHL.
Felix Nilsson, W – Nilsson’s second campaign in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) popped after he recorded 22 points in 40 games against older competition during the 2024-25 season. The play-making winger will have the chance to make another strong impression with Rogel BK in 2025-26.
Aiden Fink – RW – Fink had an electric performance with 53 points in 40 games to put Penn State University (NCAA) on the map. Fink was one of the last names called in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and that late lottery ticket is looking better by the day for Nashville.
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Fallers
Yegor Surin, C – Surin finds himself in the fallers section mostly due to signing a two-year commitment with the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) this summer. The 6-1 center will continue to develop in the second-best league in the world but likely won’t arrive to the United States before the 2027-28 NHL season.
Ozzy Wiesblatt, W – Despite a handful of games (five) with the Predators during the 2024-25 NHL season, Wiesblatt spent much of his 22-year-old season in the AHL where he recorded 40 points in 64 games. With a recent influx of talent to the Nashville prospect system, Wiesblatt falls down the board slightly in 2025.
Austin Roest – RW/C – After sustaining an injury in September, Roest recorded seven points in seven games for the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2024-25. Roest is expected to start the season with Milwaukee in the AHL in 2025.
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Likely to see NHL action
Joakim Kemell, RW – Kemell played the last two games of the 2024-25 season after spending most of the last two seasons with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL). The 21-year-old winger seems poised for NHL action in 2025-26.
Tanner Molendyk, D – Perhaps not likely to see action, but Molendyk looks set for an stint with Milwaukee (AHL) to start his pro career. If he impresses in the minors, Molendyk can make himself a call-up candidate in 2025-26.
Brady Martin, C – It will be fascinating to see how many NHL entry-level contracts are awarded following the conclusion of the 2025-26 NCAA season. Many high-level prospects have joined the college ranks and could jump into the end of the NHL season, like Ryan Leonard did last year with the Washington Capitals. Martin profiles as the type of player that could make an impact if Nashville is in a late-season playoff race.
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Top 20 Prospects
This section is intended to paint a picture of the Predators prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.
- Joakim Kemell
- Tanner Molendyk
- David Edstrom
- Brady Martin
- Matthew Wood
- Teddy Stiga
- Felix Nilsson
- Adam Wilsby
- Jacob Rombach
- Andrew Gibson
- Yegor Surin
- Joseph Willis
- Ryan Ufko
- Spencer Stastny
- Hiroki Gojsic
- Austin Roest
- Ozzy Wiesblatt
- Miguel Marques
- Aiden Fink
- Jack Matier
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Final thoughts
Nashville has collected an intriguing group of assets for the franchise moving forward. If the Predators start the 2025-26 season strong, a few of these prospects could be skating for another NHL organization to start their careers as the Predators supplement an aging core near the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline. In the event of another disaster season in Tennessee, the Predators have several pieces, such as Kemell, Martin and Molendyk, that should be NHL-ready sooner rather than later.
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Be sure to check out the Nashville Predators team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/nashville-predators/
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Thanks for reading! I am looking forward to covering the NCAA this season for Dobber Prospects, so look out for information each month.
My socials can be found on Twitter/X – @CBabosWrites
Christopher Babos