With their third and final pick of the first round of the NHL Draft, the Nashville Predators selected Madison Capitols forward Ryker Lee with the 26th overall pick.
A 6-foot, 170-pound winger, he scored 68 points in 58 games with Madison in the United States Hockey League, which was ranked fourth in the league and was USHL Rookie of the Year. He is from Wilmette, Illinois.
Lee is committed to play for Michigan State in the fall.
A college season will for sure help Lee in his development as a productive winger. Considering the success he had in the USHL, the NCAA is the next step and that will give Nashville a better gage as to where Lee's development is.
While Brady Martin, the fifth overall pick, is a strong center, Lee gives a scoring edge that shows promise for Nashville's future.
You probably shouldn't leave Ryker Lee alone with the puck 🤷#GoCapsGohttps://t.co/rr3GJeJDIxpic.twitter.com/LiRC5t9Hgq
— Madison Capitols (@MadCapsHockey) February 9, 2025
The Predators traded the 23rd overall pick and the 67th overall pick to the Ottawa Senators for the 21st overall pick. They used the move-up the board to select defenseman Cameron Reid from the Kitchener Rangers (OHL).
He led OHL defenseman under the age of 17 in points per game, scoring 54 points in 67 games and 40 penalty minutes. Reid has a 6-foot, 193-pound build, really fitting into Nashville's traditional defenseman image.
He is from Aylmer, Ontario.
In his highlights, Reid is a player who is not easily pushed off the puck and is a playmaker. Forty of his 54 points this past season came off assists. This is a strong pick, aligning with Nashville's team identity and laying the groundwork for the future.
The Predators had the fifth overall pick in the draft, selecting center Brady Martin from the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds.
In his second season with the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL, Martin scored 72 points in 57 games and had a plus/minus of 25. He also logged 68 penalty minutes.
The Elmira, Ontario, native also represented Canada at the 2025 IIHF U-18 World Championship, scoring 11 points in seven games and winning a gold medal.
Martin was not in attendance at the NHL Draft as he was working on his family's farm.
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