The Predators would love to have simply held their ground during the NHL draft lottery last month, which would have given them the third overall pick in Friday’s draft.

But the odds weren’t with Nashville, as the Preds fell to the fifth overall pick.

The good news for a franchise that’s desperate to add a high-impact center to the organization?

The front end of this draft is loaded with quality centers, as TSN hockey analyst Bob McKenzie lists seven among his top 10 overall prospects: Michael Misa, James Hagens, Caleb Desnoyers, Roger McQueen, Anton Frondell, Brady Martin and Jake O’Brien.

“We’re fortunate there is a number of good centers in this draft,” Preds General Manager Barry Trotz said. “They all bring different elements.

“We feel very confident that if … the picks go exactly like our list, we’re going to get a really good player. [And] if they don’t go exactly like our list, we’re [still] going to get a really good player. So I feel pretty confident we’re going to get someone who’s going to be a real good Nashville Predator for a long time.”

Misa, the highest-rated center in the group, is all but certain to be gone by the time the Preds pick at No. 5, likely chosen by either the New York Islanders at No. 1 or the San Jose Sharks at No. 2.

But the Preds will likely have a chance to select from at least four — and maybe more — of the six remaining center when Nashville makes its highest selection since the 2013 draft.

Here’s a closer look at the six centers the Preds might pick, assuming they choose to select at that position:

Player: Anton Frondell

Position: Center

Ht, wt: 6-1, 204

Prospect ranking: No. 5 (ESPN); No. 4 (TSN); No. 6 (The Athletic)

2024-25 team: Djurgarden (Swedish league)

2024-25 stats: In 10 games at the junior level, he collected seven points (five goals, two assists). He added 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 29 games in the second division of Sweden’s senior league during the regular season, and contributed seven points (three goals, four assists) in 16 playoff contests.

Background: The 18-year-old Frondell may be the most NHL-ready of these six center prospects, in part because of his size and physicality, and partly because he spent most of last season playing against men in Sweden’s senior division … He gets high marks from scouts on his two-way game, intelligence and strong shot … Most analysts think Frondell has first-line center potential, but he’s also versatile enough to play wing.

Player: James Hagens

Position: Center

Ht, wt: 5-10, 186

Prospect ranking: No. 3 (ESPN); No. 7 (TSN); No. 5 (The Athletic)  

2024-25 team: Boston College

2024-25 stats: Posted 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games as a freshman for the Eagles. 

Background: Hagens, 18, may have the most impressive offensive upside of this group, as he came into last season as the consensus No. 1 pick after totaling 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) in 26 games for the U.S. National Development Team in 2023-24 … His stock dipped just a bit in the eyes of some following the 2024-25 season, when he wasn’t dominant offensively while playing against older prospects in college … Hagens may not be the biggest prospect, but his speed, skills, vision and play-making ability are outstanding.

Player: Caleb Desnoyers

Position: Center

Ht, wt: 6-2, 182

Prospect ranking: No. 7 (ESPN); No. 5 (TSN); No. 4 (The Athletic)

2024-25 team: Moncton Wildcats (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)

2024-25 stats: Totaled 84 points (35 goals, 49 assists) in 56 regular season games, and added 30 points (nine goals, 21 assists) in 30 playoff contests.

Background: Desnoyers is considered exceptional in nearly all phases, and scouts have raved repeatedly about his play-making ability, two-way game and hockey smarts … He uses his size well to gain position on both ends of the ice, and he’ll likely be even more physical when he fills out his frame … The 18-year-old Desnoyers may have some work to do in terms of adding speed and explosiveness to his game, but plenty of analysts see him as a potential first-line center.

Player: Jake O’Brien

Position: Center

Ht, wt: 6-2, 177

Prospect ranking: No. 9 (ESPN); No. 6 (TSN); No. 7 (The Athletic)

2024-25 team: Brantford Bulldogs (Ontario Hockey League)

2024-25 stats: Totaled 98 points (32 goals, 66 assists) in 66 regular season games, and added 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 11 playoff contests.

Background: O’Brien, 18, took a huge leap forward last season, improving from 64 points (13 goals, 51 assists) in 2023-24 to the 98-point total in 2024-25 … He’s considered a bit of a magician in the offensive zone, using his high hockey IQ and passing vision to set up teammates time after time. O’Brien also improved in his defensive zone this season, according to most analysts … He’s not as physically mature as, say, Frondell, but should gain speed and strength as he gets a little older.

Player: Roger McQueen

Position: Center

Ht, wt: 6-5, 198

Prospect ranking: No. 6 (ESPN); No. 9 (TSN); No. 9 (The Athletic)

2024-25 team: Brandon Wheat Kings (Western Hockey League)

2024-25 stats: Recorded 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in 17 regular season games, and added one goal in three playoff contests.

Background: McQueen, 18, might well be the biggest wildcard in the group, as his size, reach, skill level and physicality are all enviable traits … Teams will have to decide the level of risk they’re willing to take on a prospect who only played 20 games last season due to a back injury. He did participate fully in the NHL Scouting Combine and said the injury is in the past … Trotz has been a proponent of taking big swings in the draft. Would he consider going high-risk, high-reward with McQueen?

Player: Brady Martin

Position: Center

Ht, wt: 6-0, 186

Prospect ranking: No. 13 (ESPN); No. 8 (TSN); No. 10 (The Athletic)

2024-25 team: Soo Greyhounds (Ontario Hockey League)

2024-25 stats: Registered 72 points (33 goals, 39 assists) in 57 games, and added four points (two goals, two assists) in five playoff contests

Background: Martin, 18, may slide beyond the Predators selection, but he is a tempting package of physicality, competitiveness and goal-scoring ability … He may not have quite the offensive upside of some of the other center prospects, but analysts say Martin impacts the game in other areas more so than his peers … Martin saw dramatic improvement in his offensive game last season, jumping from 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 52 contests in 2023-24 to the 72-point total in 57 games in 2024-25.