Why the Nashville Predators could select a defenseman at No. 10 in 2026 NHL Draft
The Nashville Predators have focused on forward at the top of recent drafts. Here's why they are thinking defenseman for the No. 10 pick this year.
Every year, the Nashville Predators try to find a game-changing forward in the draft. Brady Martin at No. 5 overall last year.
Egor Surin at No. 22 two years ago. Matthew Wood at No.
15 the year before that. In eight of the last nine drafts, the Predators have selected a forward with their first pick in the draft. The only exception was goaltender Yaroslav Askarov in 2020.
But that could change this year. "It happens to be one of those years where there's a lot of high-end defensemen at the top," Jeff Kealty , director of scouting, said on May 13. Speaking to media at Bridgestone Arena, Kealty didn't commit to taking a particular position, but admitted that this year's crop of defensemen will be hard to pass up.