The first round of the 2025 NHL Draft played out exactly like Nashville Predators general manager Barry Trotz said it would.
“There were some really good names on the board,” Trotz told reporters at Bridgestone Arena after the first round on June 27, following up his promise that the Predators would be in line to pick “a really good player.”
The Predators’ three picks – forward Brady Martin at No. 5, defenseman Cameron Reid at No. 21, and forward Ryker Lee at No. 26 – will help fortify Nashville’s prospect pool in the coming years.
Here’s what Trotz had to say about the newest Predators’ prospects.
Brady Martin was ‘passion’ pick by Nashville Predators at No. 5
The selection of Martin at No. 5 was the first big surprise of the draft. With center James Hagens and winger Porter Martone still on the board, the Predators taking Martin was a change-up.
But according to Trotz, Martin was the only pick that made sense. Not just because of his impressive offensive output with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL), where he scored 33 goals and 39 assists in 57 games, but because of the impression he left on Nashville’s scouts.
“I watched these guys in the room with scouts and it came down to a little bit of an ‘it factor’ with (Martin),” Trotz said. “A guy shows up with all those intangibles, the work ethic, and all those things. There’s not too many things that are going to get in (Martin’s) way. We had some tough decisions, but this was total passion on this pick.”
Martin, a 6-foot, 178-pound right-hander, is known for his physical play from the center position, which he combines with offensive flash that should translate well to the NHL.
“It’s the combination of competitiveness that you hear about, the drive and the physicality,” Predators’ Director of Scouting Jeff Kealty said. “But his offensive talent as well… there’s a reason why he was a trending player.”
Martin will likely head back for his third season in the OHL, but he could potentially make the Predators roster out of training camp. He immediately slots as the team’s top center prospect, ahead of Fedor Svechkov and David Edstrom, and with the Predators’ weak center depth, there’s a path to him making the NHL roster as an 18-year-old.
Cameron Reid, an all-around defenseman worth trading up for
The Predators made one trade on draft night, sending picks No. 23 and No. 67 to the Ottawa Senators for pick No. 21, where they took Reid, a defenseman with the Kitchener Rangers (OHL).
“Just a terrific all around player,” Kealty said of Reid. “Great mobility, great hockey sense. Not the biggest, he’s six foot, but he competes and defends very well to size.”
Reid soared up draft rankings the last few months after scoring 14 goals and 40 assists in 67 games as a two-way defenseman. Like Martin, the Predators liked Reid’s attitude and makeup in addition to his skill set.
“These are the types of guys that they just continue to develop,” Kealty said. “He’s got all those tangible things that you see, but the intangibles as well. He was a guy we talked a lot about, we had him pinpointed.”
Ryker Lee is a bet on offensive upside for Predators
The Predators’ final pick, forward Ryker Lee, was a futures bet for Trotz.
Lee, 18, just had a breakout season with the Madison Capitols in the United States Hockey League (USHL), scoring 31 goals and 37 assists in 58 games. A skilled winger with excellent puck-handling and goal-scoring ability, he’s 5-foot-11, 181 pounds. If all goes right in his development, he’s a top-six scoring winger in the NHL.
“(The USHL) is not the easiest league to score in,” Kealty said. “Usually, the guys that can produce and put points at that level can can do it to college level pretty quickly … he’s got a great offensive skill set, great shot, great release. He can shoot pucks from a lot of different angles … he’s kind of a natural scorer in that sense.”
Lee, who will play for Michigan State in 2025-26, is a “boom or bust” type prospect. The Predators usually opt for safe bets in the late first round, so picking Lee shows how much they like his potential.
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.