The Preds made some trades and some picks right now. Towards the top of the draft it appeared as if they simply didn’t like plenty of the out there choices, swapping a number of picks for same-round picks subsequent season.
In the course of the first spherical yesterday, they made three picks (and a commerce): heart Brady Martin at fifth, defender Cameron Reid at twenty first, and ahead Ryker Lee at twenty sixth. Listed here are right now’s additions:
Jacob Rombach | Defender | Choose #35, 2nd Spherical
6’6″ defender Jacob Rombach spent the final two seasons with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. This previous season he had 18 factors (3G/15A) and 57 PIM in 57 video games, however was additionally chosen to signify the US on the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Scouting opinions usually had Rombach a bit of later than #thirty fifth, however he’s described as a robust defensive defender with a excessive hockey IQ and the ability to make strikes that may assist his crew out of hassle. He’s a robust bodily presence and performs with a method enthusiastically described by the printed crew on NHL community as “imply.”
Jack Ivankovic | Goaltender | Choose #58, 2nd Spherical
Jack Ivankovic is one other smaller, sensible goalie — apparently, GM Barry Trotz is hoping that what works for Juuse Saros will preserve working for the Preds.
He spent the final two years with the Steelheads of the OHL following them with their metropolis transfer in 2024. As a starter within the 2024-25 season, he put up a .903 sv% and a 3.05 GAA over 43 video games, which was fairly respectable relative to different goalies within the league. Ivankovic additionally represented Canada internationally a number of instances, placing up some pretty jawdropping stats within the 2025 WJC for U18s and including a good sport with the U20s.
Scouting studies describe him as expert and persevering, with common sense and evaluation of the gameplay round him.
Alex Huang | Defender | Choose #122, 4th Spherical
In a totally unsurprising transfer, the Preds opted to draft one other skill-first defender in Alex Huang, who’s spent the final two years racking up assists for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the QMJHL. He had 8G/28A in 61 video games for them in his age-16 season, and 7G/33A in 64 video games this previous season, whereas additionally taking over extra defensive tasks. Moreover, he appeared for Workforce Canada on the WJC U18s this previous yr.
Huang is described as a talented skater and puckhandler who’s glorious at creating managed zone entries. He sounds just like the sort of defender Nashville likes to draft.
Daniel Nieminen | Defender | Choose #163, sixth Spherical
Don’t look now — the Preds have drafted one other defender.
Daniel Nieminen performed most of final season with the Pelicans of the Finnish Liiga, up from their junior groups. He had 11 factors (4G/7A) in 39 video games, which the NHL Community broadcast factors out was fifth-best for U21 defenders within the league.
Scouting studies say he’s a talented and quick skater who’s stable and dependable in his personal finish, but additionally makes his approach out of it successfully.
Except in any other case famous, statistics and scouting studies are from EliteProspects.com.
