Once again, the Nashville Predators were shut out of the NHL’s draft lottery.
After both lottery draws on May 5, the Predators retained the No. 10 overall pick. This will be Nashville’s ninth top-10 selection in the NHL draft, and its first at the No. 10 spot.
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Last year, the Predators took center Brady Martin at No. 5 overall, their highest draft selection since 2013.
The 2026 NHL Draft is scheduled for June 26-27 in Buffalo.
Who could they take at No. 10? Here are four options.
Wyatt Cullen, Forward, U.S. National Team Development Program
Wyatt Cullen is a shifty, playmaker for the U.S. National Team Development Program who just put up nine points in five games at the U-18 World Juniors. David St. Louis, a scout writing for Elite Prospects, called Cullen the “star of the tournament, displaying skills well above everyone else’s.”
A 6-foot, 173-pound winger, Cullen has a ton of offensive talent. He’s quick with the puck and constantly finding narrow passing lanes. He has enough shooting talent to finish around the net when he needs to, though he seems like a pass-first player. In 40 games with the USNTDP, he scored 16 goals and had 29 assists, adding 16 points in 15 games in the USHL.
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Cullen, the son of former Predators center Matt Cullen, is committed to the University of Minnesota for 2026-27.
Tynan Lawrence, Center, Boston University
Tynan Lawrence is probably the second-best center in the draft behind Caleb Malhotra (it’s not a great draft for centers). At one point, Lawrence was a projected top-five pick as a two-way center with some offensive upside.
Jan 30, 2024; Gangwon-do, KOR; Tynan Lawrence (CAN) skates with the puck while under pressure from AJ Francisco (USA) in the Ice Hockey Men’s 6-on-6 Tournament Semifinals between Canada and (USA) at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Tuesday 30 January 2024. Mandatory Credit: OIS/Thomas Lovelock-USA TODAY Sports
Lawrence scored 71 points in 69 games over two seasons with the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL). Then he managed only seven points in 18 games for Boston University in his first collegiate year. But most scouts saw a tenacious, do-it-all center whose work ethic more than made up for his meager production. He does all the little things necessary for a 200-foot center to succeed and projects as a potential No. 2 down the road.
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It’s hard to say where Lawrence will fall in the draft. Once Malhotra is off the board, teams looking for centers might get desperate. Elite Prospects has him mocked as high as No. 3 and as low as No. 17.
Daxon Rudolph, Defenseman, Prince Albert Raiders
This draft class is full of quality defensemen. Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds), Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars), and Keaton Verhoeff (North Dakota) are all likely to be picked in the top 10.
Daxon Rudolph is a 6-foot-2, 203-pound right-shot defenseman with outstanding offensive skills. He’s physical, but also a dynamic skater and an excellent puck-handler. He scored 28 goals and had 50 assists in 68 games, adding nine goals and 14 assists in 15 playoff games.
Jan 27, 2024; Gangwon-do, KOR; Daxon Rudolph (CAN) skates with the puck in the Ice Hockey Men’s 6-on-6 Tournament Preliminary Round between Republic of Korea and Canada at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Saturday 27 January 2024. Mandatory Credit: OIS/Chloe Knott-USA TODAY Sports Images
The Predators could use a top-notch, right-hand shot defenseman in their pipeline. Ryan Ufko made his debut last year, and Andrew Gibson is still brewing in Milwaukee, but Rudolph would instantly upgrade the Predators’ back-end prospects.
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Adam Novotny, Forward, Peterborough Petes
Adam Novotny is an interesting power forward prospect. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, he’s not a looming presence, but he plays a big game.
Novotny scored 34 goals and had 31 assists in 58 games for Peterborough, his first season in the OHL after coming over from Mountfield HK in Czechia. He has above-average shooting ability and excellent physical skills to win pucks in all three zones. Speed is an issue, but the puck skills are there and the Predators need more of that.
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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: 4 options for the Nashville Predators at No. 10 in the 2026 NHL Draft