The Predators’ top NHL prospect has guided his team to the brink of junior hockey’s biggest prize.
Defenseman Tanner Molendyk and his Medicine Hat Tigers have advanced to Saturday’s championship game of the Memorial Cup, where they will face a yet-to-be determined opponent.
It’s the latest indication that the 20-year-old Molendyk, one of Nashville’s two first-round draft picks in 2023, is on a fast track to the NHL.
The 5-11, 190-pound Molendyk was the final cut from the Predators’ training camp prior to the 2024-25 season. Because he was only 19 years old at the time, he had to return to his Canadian junior team instead of playing in Milwaukee of the American Hockey League.
But the McBride, British Columbia, native made the most of his final season in juniors, totaling 47 points (nine goals, 38 assists) in 49 regular-season contests.
In his first 18 playoff contests, Molendyk has produced 20 points (four goals, 16 assists).
He’s notched three assists in Medicine Hat’s three wins at the Memorial Cup, a round-robin format tournament that features four teams — three conference champions and the host city’s team.
One of Molendyk’s opponents at the Memorial Cup is another Predators draft pick, Moncton defenseman Dylan MacKinnon, who was selected by Nashville in the third round in 2023.
The Athletic lists Molendyk as the Preds’ top prospect, ranking him 25th among all NHL prospects under the age of 23 who are not yet fully established with their NHL club. He gets high marks for his quickness and mobility, skills that allow him to both defend tightly and support play in the offensive zone.
Predators General Manager Barry Trotz was asked last month whether he expected Molendyk and forward Matthew Wood, Nashville’s other first-round pick in 2023, to earn roster spots with the Preds for the 2025-26 season.
The 20-year-old Wood played six games with the Predators in 2024-25 after finishing his NCAA career last season at Minnesota, for which he totaled 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists) in 39 games.
“My expectation is that they’ll [both] compete for spots,” Trotz said. “It is too soon [to know for sure whether they will begin the season in Nashville]. But I’ll be quite honest. Molendyk has pushed for a spot the last two training camps.”