The 2026 Draft Arrives in Buffalo
The 2026 NHL Draft will be held on June 26‑27 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, a venue that has become synonymous with the league’s biggest prospects.
Among the 18 teams competing, the Nashville Predators hold the 10th overall pick and will be busy on day one, possessing a total of eleven selections.
Predators’ Defensive Focus
General manager Jeff Kealty and director of amateur scouting Chris MacFarland have been vocal about the team’s focus on adding high‑upside defensemen to a blue line that has been reshaped over the past two seasons.
Top Defensive Prospects
Scouting reports highlight a deep pool of talent, especially on the defensive side, where five names have emerged as the most frequently linked to the Predators.
Alberts Smits, a 6‑3, 205‑pound defenseman from Valmiera, Latvia, entered the conversation as the second‑ranked international skater by NHL Central Scouting. He impressed in Finland’s Liiga, posting 13 points in 38 games, and his mobility has drawn comparisons to veteran defensemen.
Keaton Verhoeff, a 6‑4, 215‑pound Canadian, is ranked fourth among North American skaters and recently completed a rookie NCAA season with North Dakota, where he contributed 20 points and helped the Fighting Hawks reach the Frozen Four.
Daxon Rudolph, also a 6‑3, 205‑pound defenseman from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, logged 78 points for the Prince Albert Raiders last season, leading the Western Hockey League in scoring for a defenseman.
Malte Gustafsson, a 6‑4, 203‑pound Swede from Väckelsång, made his professional debut in the Swedish Hockey League, recording three points in 27 appearances, and sits at No. 7 among international skaters.
Thomas Bleyl, a 5‑11, 170‑pound American from Schenectady, New York, capped his junior career with the Moncton Wildcats, producing 81 points in 63 games, and is ranked 17th among North American skaters.
Scouting Rankings and What They Mean
NHL Central Scouting’s rankings place Smits at No. 2 among international skaters, Verhoeff at No. 4, Rudolph at No. 5, Gustafsson at No. 7 and Bleyl at No. 17, underscoring the depth of the 2026 class.
Looking Ahead
If the Predators secure one of these high‑upside defensemen, the move could accelerate the team’s transition toward a more mobile, puck‑moving back end. The organization’s ties to institutions such as the University of Denver and Michigan State University, as well as its partnerships with European clubs like EHC Red Bull München and HV71, provide a broad scouting net that could yield the next franchise cornerstone.