On the second day of the 2026 NHL Draft, the Nashville Predators made their first selection of the session, choosing Russian goaltender Dmitri Borichev with the 70th overall pick.
A Calculated Move
Borichev, who currently patrols the crease for Loko Yaroslavl in the Russian Junior Hockey League, has drawn attention for his size, reflexes and ability to handle high‑pressure situations in international competition.
The pick marks the third overall selection the Predators have made in this draft, following the earlier first‑round choices of left winger Wyatt Cullen and defenseman Thomas Bleyel.
Nashville’s roster building strategy has emphasized depth at every position, and the addition of a promising netminder aligns with that approach as the team looks to bolster its pipeline for future seasons.
The Predators still hold several picks in the later rounds, giving them flexibility to address other needs such as forward depth and defensive depth before the draft concludes.