Nearly four months since the season finale at Bridgestone Arena, the Nashville Predators are returning to the ice to prepare for the 2025-26 season.

Nashville’s rookie camp will open Sept. 10, followed by a rookie tournament in Florida against the Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning. Veterans will report for full training camp Sept. 17.

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Typically, there are more important storylines during the main camp, but this year, several rookie camp storylines could take precedent — especially one involving the Predators‘ top draft pick, Brady Martin.

Here are three storylines to monitor at Nashville’s rookie camp.

Will Brady Martin stand out among his peers?

All eyes will be on Martin, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 draft. Even at just 18 years old, he should be one of the best players on the ice. His physical abilities, skill and vision give him an advantage, plus he’s coming off a nice performance at the July development camp.

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If Martin can be Nashville’s best forward at the rookie tournament in Florida, his chances of making the Predators’ opening night roster increase. It’s still a long shot, but given Nashville’s center depth, it’s not out of the question.

Remember that the Predators have two options for Martin for the 2025-26 season: He makes the roster out of training camp, or he goes back to Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) for the season. Note that if Martin makes the Predators out of camp, they have the option of playing him in up to nine NHL games before deciding to either keep him in Nashville or send him back to the OHL.

TOUGH CHOICE: Why Nashville Predators now face big decision on top pick Brady Martin

Are Tanner Molendyk and Andrew Gibson still a package deal?

One year after selecting defenseman Tanner Molendyk at No. 24 overall in the 2023 draft, the Predators traded for another 2023 draftee, defenseman Andrew Gibson. Since then, the team seemed keen on making Molendyk (left-handed) and Gibson (right-handed) long-term partners.

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Until recently, that is.

In development camp this summer, Molendyk paired with 2025 draftee Jacob Rombach, while Gibson paired with 2025 draftee Cameron Reid. Molendyk and Gibson weren’t teammates in the Future Stars game, either, suggesting the team is looking at separating them.

It’s something to keep an eye on, especially if both Molendyk and Gibson begin the season in Milwaukee. Molendyk recently shared that he prefers playing on the right side of the defense, even as a left-handed player. That’s also Gibson’s preferred spot.

We’ll learn more in camp, but recent moves suggest the Molendyk and Gibson pairing could be over before it started.

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Is forward Cole O’Hara ready for pro hockey?

Cole O’Hara had a breakout season in his final year at UMass, with 22 goals and 29 assists for the eighth-most points in the NCAA. He then signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Nashville in April and made his pro debut with the Milwaukee Admirals, scoring one goal in two games.

The Predators’ fourth-round pick in 2022 (No. 114 overall) was an afterthought prior to last season, but now has serious potential as a playmaking winger. Can he show he’s ready for pro hockey?

Size may be the only issue — O’Hara is 6-foot and less than 190 pounds, so he’s not going to muscle his way to the net. His craftiness with the puck and deft scoring touch may be enough to become an everyday player, but there’s more to learn about him. How the 23-year-old performs against other younger NHL rookies will tell us a lot.

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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: Is Brady Martin ready? Three storylines as Predators open rookie camp