What we're hearing about Nashville Predators, NHL draft, rumors, and trades

[ASFN Admin]

The Nashville Predators continue their search for a game-changing forward or a top-flight defenseman in the 2026 NHL Draft.

The Predators will start with the No. 10 overall selection in the first round on June 26, then have 10 more picks in Rounds 2-7 on June 27.

This is the first draft for Chris MacFarland, the Predators' new president of hockey operations and general manager. MacFarland has already made two trades, moves he called as important for shoring up the team's center depth.

Picking at No. 10 would give the Predators their ninth top-10 selection in franchise history and would follow Brady Martin at No. 5 last year. But could they trade the pick to either move up higher or drop back in the first round?


Here's what we're hearing about the Predators ahead of the draft.

Latest Nashville Predators rumors ahead of 2026 NHL Draft​

When is the NHL Draft? TV channel, time, streaming​

• What: 2026 NHL Draft, 1st round
• When: Friday, June 26 at 6 p.m. CT
• How to watch: ESPN, ESPN+
• Streaming:FUBO (free trial available), ESPN app

The first round of the 2026 NHL Draft will be televised by ESPN and ESPN+. Streaming options for the draft include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Every Nashville Predators pick in the 2026 NHL Draft​

The Predators have 11 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft. Here's every pick as they happen:

• No. 10 (1st round) -
• No. 42 (2nd round) -
• No. 57 (2nd round) -
• No 70 (3rd round) -
• No. 106 (4th round) -
• No. 118 (4th round) -
• No. 138 (5th round) -
• No. 148 (5th round) -
• No. 160 (5th round) -
• No. 179 (6th round) -
• No. 202 (7th round) -

2026 NHL Draft first round draft order​

1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. San Jose Sharks
3. Vancouver Canucks
4. Buffalo Sabres
5. New York Rangers
6. Calgary Flames
7. Seattle Kraken
8. Winnipeg Jets
9. San Jose Sharks
10. Nashville Predators
11. St. Louis Blues
12. New Jersey Devils
13. New York Islanders
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. St. Louis Blues
16. St. Louis Blues
17. Los Angeles Kings
18. Washington Capitals
19. Utah Mammoth
20. Buffalo Sabres
21. Philadelphia Flyers
22. Pittsburgh Penguins
23. Boston Bruins
24. Vancouver Canucks
25. Ottawa Senators
26. New York Rangers
27. San Jose Sharks
28. Montreal Canadiens
29. St. Louis Blues
30. Calgary Flames
31. Carolina Hurricanes
32. Ottawa Senators

Top prospects in 2026 NHL Draft​

Here's 15 of the top prospects being considered for the 2026 NHL Draft:

• Gavin McKenna (LW) - Penn State
• Ivar Stenberg (LW) - Frölunda
• Chase Reid (D) - Soo Greyhounds
• Caleb Malhotra (C) - Brantford Bulldogs
• Carson Carels (D) - Prince George Cougars
• Viggo Björck (C) - Djurgardens IF
• Daxon Rudolph (D) - Prince Albert Raiders
• Keaton Verhoeff (D) - North Dakota
• Alberts Smits (D) - Jukurit
• Wyatt Cullen (LW) - U.S. NTDP
• Tynan Lawrence (C) - Boston University
• Ethan Belchetz (LW) - Windsor Spitfires
• Malte Gustafsson (D) - HV71
• Ryan Lin (D) - Vancouver Giants
• Xavier Villeneueve (D) - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

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: What we're hearing about Predators, NHL draft, rumors, and trades

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