Nashville's Draft Board: Rounds 2-7
On day two of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, the Nashville Predators will have ten selections. Below are ten prospects I like that should be available at various stages of rounds two through seven.
Niklas Aaram-Olsen (F) | Örebro HK U20 | U20 Nationell
The Norwegian winger posted 40 points in 29 U20 games this year and earned a 16-game stint in the top Swedish league; he also heavily contributed at U18 and U20 international tournaments this year.
Aaram-Olsen is a true sniper with the stickhandling hands to match. His hands, eyes, and feet move in sync as he attacks defenders and can deceive goalies with different shot types. He’ll need more shift-to-shift consistency and transition success to be an NHL producer.
Mathis Preston (F) | Vancouver Giants | WHL
Preston is a tad smaller than Aaram-Olsen but on the younger end of this draft, too. In his second full WHL season, Preston posted 32 points in 36 games for Spokane and another 12 points in ten games for Vancouver.
The British Columbia native is as quick as they come; every shift, you notice him blazing up the ice, carving around defenders with a nose for the net. He builds explosiveness through crossover steps, and his hand and foot speed match. Preston’s shooting talent is exceptional, and he’s a true threat to netminders as he barrels toward the slot.
He’ll need to diversify his attack, improve his defensive play, and strengthen puck retrievals to succeed at the next level.
Juho Piiparinen (D) | Tappara | Liiga
Piiparinen is a sturdy blueliner who is eligible for this draft by just a month. He spent much of this season in the Finnish Liiga, posting three assists in 29 games for Tappara; he also appeared in the U18 and U20 World Junior Championships (WJCs).
Piiparinen is first and foremost dependable. When he’s on the ice, you have little to worry about. He’s an okay skater, but his positioning and timing help him win more one-on-one battles than he loses. He uses his physicality wisely and loves his puck touches. Piiparinen is a reliable passer, a good mover in transition, and has smart instincts in the offensive zone.
If he can elevate his offensive play in the pros, he could be a top second-pair defender.
Jaxon Cover (F) | London Knights | OHL
An OHL rookie, Cover really caught my eye with London this year. In 67 games with the Knights, he potted 20 goals and 52 points and showed impressive details in his game most nights.
The Florida-born winger is as exciting as they come. He’ll dart through the neutral zone, beating defenders with slick hands; he’ll peel off the wall using his frame to guard possession, and he’ll clean up rebounds and put home chances in tight. His pace is strong, and his offensive vision is solid.
Next season will be an interesting test to see if Cover can elevate to a dominant scorer before heading to college in 2027.
Tomas Chrenko (F) | HK Nitra | Slovakia
Chrenko turned heads at the U20 WJC, where he scored five goals and eight points in five games for Slovakia, but his production continued throughout the year, posting 31 points in 44 pro games back home.
Chrenko is on the older side of this draft class and stands under 6’0”, but his skill is undeniable. He’s a spectacular puck handler in tight corners and can turn the smallest passing lanes into scoring chances. His one-on-one talent was always obvious, but he developed more mature playmaking abilities this season, too.
I like Chrenko’s vision a lot, but questions remain about how much he can drive play and how he will respond to more physicality at the next level.
Samuel Hrenák (G) | Fargo Force | USHL
Hrenák spent much of this season in Slovakia at the U20 level but came to the USHL, going 7-1-1 in nine contests with a 0.918 save percentage.
The 6’3” netminder is technically sound with good lateral movements, post coverage, and cross-ice reads. Nashville has room and time for a project in-goal, and finding Hrenák minutes in college and beyond could be worthwhile for a potential NHL goalie one day.
Samu Alalauri (D) | Pelicans U20 | U20 SM-sarja
Samu Alalauri is a 6’2” right-shot defender who spent most of the season in Finland’s U20 league. In 40 contests, he scored six goals and 25 points and scored more than a point per game in 18 international contests. He’ll head to the University of Massachusetts next year.
It’s a bit hard to decipher what Alalauri an NHL team will get. In international play, he was dynamic on offense, attacking the circles and blasting one-timers from the dots; in league play, he was more conservative and focused on setting up his teammates in transition. Regardless, his skating mechanics provide a strong foundation for his game in both directions. He’s got good vision with the puck and is a reliable distributor under pressure.
If he can commit to a true two-way game, he could develop into a solid depth defender.
Alexander Bilecki (D) | Kitchener Rangers | OHL
I caught a lot of Alexander Bilecki when watching Cameron Reid this year, and he was hard to take my eyes off of. We rave about Reid’s skating, shiftiness, calmness with the puck, and distribution skills; all of those traits apply to Bilecki, and the latter may be even more interested in jumping into the play. Limited ice time held Bilecki to just 29 points in 60 games for the Rangers this year.
Bilecki’s defensive game is inconsistent (and I almost wonder about a team converting him to a forward), but his role next year should demand more and provide more clarity on his development.
Landon Hafele (F) | Green Bay Gamblers | USHL
Headed to Arizona State next year, Landon Hafele scored 15 goals and 42 points in 52 USHL games this season. The 6’0” winger is chippy, quick, and relentless. He doesn’t have elite speed, but his motor is always running, taking checks from opponents to buy time for teammates or finding open ice for a tap-in goal.
He’ll dig hard for pucks in a scrum, press hard against puck carriers in the neutral zone, and provide good pace in transition. Regardless, he lacks true high-end puck skills and needs to improve his vision and decision-making in the NCAA.
Vladimír Dravecký (D) | Brantford Bulldogs | OHL
Dravecký is an ideal late-round pick for me. The 6’0”, right-shot defender showed some offensive flashes this season, scoring 28 points in 58 games for Brantford. He moves well, walks the blue line with intent, has a solid shooting arsenal, methodically picks apart opponents' plays, and stays well-positioned in his own end.
He’s not the most physical, he doesn’t make the crispest passes, and his transition decisions could be smarter. Why not take a chance?
