Predators Stumble with Questionable Draft Pick

A year of despair and misery for Predators fans after a free agency which gave high hopes of a strong playoff push and success left fans underwhelmed after a disappointing year, and a complete reset by general manager Barry Trotz. But, for their woes, they were gifted the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft, a pick which not only would be able to save their franchise, but give a much needed boost for hopes ahead of the next few years. But with the draft well under way, a big reach at number five looks like Barry Trotz may have already blown it, and already doesn't look like such a good pick.

Despite the Soo Greyhounds Brady Martin being a solid player, a reliable, adaptable, and versatile forward who has strong hockey IQ, and has great positioning and consistency across the entire forward line, he isn't top five material, and may have passed up on some seriously talented players.

Martin was a top 10 ranked prospect, but with Schaefer, Misa, Frondell, and Desnoyers off the board, all signs pointed to the OHL’s Porter Martone to become the next dual threat forward in Nashville, or even former number one ranked prospect James Hagens, but both were passed up on in an early shock in this years draft.

Hagens and Martone who both fell to six and seven are arguably leaps and bounds better than Martin, and both their potentials and trajectories are much higher compared to Martin, making the sense of the pick odd. A pick with so much pressure, but a pick which could do so much for your franchise, a pick which Nashville may have misjudged, and a pick they may have made a massive mistake, and blew early on.