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Nashville Predators development camp wrapped on July 3, with Team Navy beating Team Gold 2-1 in the Future Stars game.
Wyatt Cullen, the Predators' top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, scored the go-ahead goal for Navy in the second half, assisted by Ryker Lee. Though the result of the exhibition doesn't matter, it punctuated a week of on-ice instruction aimed at helping Nashville's top prospects learn what it takes to make it in the NHL.
"I'm just soaking it all in this week," Cullen said after the exhibition at Ford Ice Center Bellevue. "I'm super excited to play here eventually. Now I'll just go year by-year and see how each year goes."
With development camp over, the 37 camp participants will head their separate ways — some will prepare for their collegiate seasons, while others will head back to junior hockey or their European clubs.
Along with Cullen, here's everyone who stood out this week at development camp.
If there was an MVP award for development camp, Lee would win it. In the 3-on-3 tournament he scored at least five goals, then in the Future Stars game he had an assist and a shootout goal.
But Lee showed this week he isn't just a goal scorer. He battles for pucks as hard as anyone — and is starting to win most of those battles.
"Something (the coaches) harped on a lot was getting pucks back, winning puck battles," Lee said after the exhibition. "For the rest of this summer, that's something I'm going to work on a lot."
The Predators might have a legitimate star in Lee. The 2025 first-round pick will head back to Michigan State this year, but one more year in college might do it. You' could see him in Nashville by 2027.
On the first day, Egor Surin boldly claimed he was the strongest player in camp. But that's not arrogance, it's just truth. Surin, 19, spent the last two years in the KHL playing against grown men. An already physical forward when he was drafted in 2024, he's bulked up, making him even more intimidating.
Surin dominated as a top line forward in the exhibition, using his size and strength to hold off defenders, creating space for linemates Lee and Cullen. He also scored in the shootout, showing off his hands and beating Russian counterpart Dimitri Borichev.
Surin will now head back to Russia for one more season with Lokomotiv. Like Lee, one more year should be enough for him.
Martin, the Predators' top pick in 2025, looks as physical as ever. He's also grown in his ability to protect the puck in the offensive zone, extending possession and then finding an open wing.
In the exhibition, Martin centered a line with Aiden Fink, a 2023 seventh-round pick, and Dylan Edwards, a non-roster camp invitee. He skated the puck up the ice with confidence, slipping passes at the right moments and always providing support. His game is in a good place right now.
If Martin doesn't make the team out of camp like last year, he can start the season with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals. The league recently changed the rule allowing teams to roster one 19-year-old in the AHL. Wherever he starts, it seems clear Martin's junior hockey days are over.
Other prospects who shined this week include forwards Ben Strinden, Teddy Stiga and defensemen Viggo Gustafsson, Cameron Reid.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. He never uses artificial intelligence when developing or drafting stories. Contact Alex at [email protected]. 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: Here's who starred at Predators development camp, Future Stars game, including Ryker Lee
Continue reading...
Wyatt Cullen, the Predators' top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, scored the go-ahead goal for Navy in the second half, assisted by Ryker Lee. Though the result of the exhibition doesn't matter, it punctuated a week of on-ice instruction aimed at helping Nashville's top prospects learn what it takes to make it in the NHL.
"I'm just soaking it all in this week," Cullen said after the exhibition at Ford Ice Center Bellevue. "I'm super excited to play here eventually. Now I'll just go year by-year and see how each year goes."
With development camp over, the 37 camp participants will head their separate ways — some will prepare for their collegiate seasons, while others will head back to junior hockey or their European clubs.
Along with Cullen, here's everyone who stood out this week at development camp.
Ryker Lee
If there was an MVP award for development camp, Lee would win it. In the 3-on-3 tournament he scored at least five goals, then in the Future Stars game he had an assist and a shootout goal.
But Lee showed this week he isn't just a goal scorer. He battles for pucks as hard as anyone — and is starting to win most of those battles.
"Something (the coaches) harped on a lot was getting pucks back, winning puck battles," Lee said after the exhibition. "For the rest of this summer, that's something I'm going to work on a lot."
The Predators might have a legitimate star in Lee. The 2025 first-round pick will head back to Michigan State this year, but one more year in college might do it. You' could see him in Nashville by 2027.
Egor Surin
On the first day, Egor Surin boldly claimed he was the strongest player in camp. But that's not arrogance, it's just truth. Surin, 19, spent the last two years in the KHL playing against grown men. An already physical forward when he was drafted in 2024, he's bulked up, making him even more intimidating.
Surin dominated as a top line forward in the exhibition, using his size and strength to hold off defenders, creating space for linemates Lee and Cullen. He also scored in the shootout, showing off his hands and beating Russian counterpart Dimitri Borichev.
Surin will now head back to Russia for one more season with Lokomotiv. Like Lee, one more year should be enough for him.
Brady Martin
Martin, the Predators' top pick in 2025, looks as physical as ever. He's also grown in his ability to protect the puck in the offensive zone, extending possession and then finding an open wing.
In the exhibition, Martin centered a line with Aiden Fink, a 2023 seventh-round pick, and Dylan Edwards, a non-roster camp invitee. He skated the puck up the ice with confidence, slipping passes at the right moments and always providing support. His game is in a good place right now.
If Martin doesn't make the team out of camp like last year, he can start the season with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals. The league recently changed the rule allowing teams to roster one 19-year-old in the AHL. Wherever he starts, it seems clear Martin's junior hockey days are over.
Other prospects who shined this week include forwards Ben Strinden, Teddy Stiga and defensemen Viggo Gustafsson, Cameron Reid.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. He never uses artificial intelligence when developing or drafting stories. Contact Alex at [email protected]. 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: Here's who starred at Predators development camp, Future Stars game, including Ryker Lee
Continue reading...
