The Nashville Predators made a big move on June 29, sending forward Colton Sissons and defenseman Jeremy Lauzon to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for defenseman Nicolas Hague and a conditional third-round pick in 2027.

While the most immediate result of that trade is the Predators signing Hague to a four-year, $22 million contract, the impact of moving Sissons out of Nashville should have a ripple effect on the rest of the lineup.

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Which could mean good things for Nashville’s top 2025 pick, Brady Martin.

Why trading Colton Sissons could be good for Brady Martin

Nashville’s center depth heading into 2025-26 was already weak. Now, with Sissons in Vegas, it’s weaker.

Ryan O’Reilly, Nashville’s first line center, is coming off a 21-goal, 32-assist campaign. The 34-year-old’s best hockey is behind him, but he will still be asked to take on tough assignments and play the most minutes.

After O’Reilly, the Predators have few options.

Fedor Svechkov, a mostly unproven two-way center, is the most likely second-line center. Erik Haula, whom the Predators acquired in a trade with New Jersey on June 18, is coming off an 11-goal, 10-assist season with the Devils and is mostly a defensive specialist. Michael McCarron is a penalty-killing, fourth-line center.

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But at the 2025 NHL Draft, the Predators drafted Martin at No. 5 overall. The high-energy center has a lot of upside as a two-way player and plenty of offensive skills.

MARTIN: The Nashville Predators do have a type, and draft pick Brady Martin was it | Estes

There’s a chance that Martin, who just finished his second season for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the OHL, could make the Predators roster in training camp as an 18-year-old. And if that happens, Martin could find himself playing significant minutes as a rookie.

According to the CHL-NHL agreement, players drafted out of the CHL must return to their junior hockey team unless they make an NHL roster. NHL teams can give CHL players a trial period – players can play up to nine games in the NHL before a decision must be made on returning to junior hockey.

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If Martin has a good training camp, there’s a good chance the Predators give him a nine-game look in the NHL. And if that goes well, the Predators might consider keeping him in Nashville the full season.

Nashville has only had one CHL forward play a full season as an 18-year-old. Scott Hartnell played 75 games with Nashville in 2000-01, scoring two goals and 14 assists, after being drafted No. 6 overall out of the Prince Albert Raiders (WHL).

Another option for the Predators at center is David Edstrom, whom they acquired from the San Jose Sharks in the Yaroslav Askarov trade. Edstrom, a first-round pick in 2023 (No. 32 overall), moved from Sweden to North America last spring, joining the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) for their playoff run. He played in four games, recording no points.

DRAFT GRADES: Grading all 7 picks of Nashville Predators’ 2025 draft class from Brady Martin to Daniel Nieminen

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Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. 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: Predators: Colton Sissons trade could open door for Brady Martin, 18