The Nashville Predators just got a little richer in their future draft stock, all thanks to the Vegas Golden Knights' playoff dominance.
After Vegas secured a decisive 5-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 to win the series and punch their ticket to the Western Conference Finals, Nashville's conditional pick from a previous trade has been upgraded. What was originally a third-round selection in the 2027 NHL Draft is now a valuable second-round pick.
The Golden Knights will now face the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals, continuing their deep postseason run that triggered this upgrade.
This all traces back to a trade in June 2025, when Nashville sent Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon to Vegas in exchange for defenseman Nic Hague and a conditional 2027 third-round pick. The condition was simple: if the Golden Knights won at least two playoff rounds in 2026, the pick would bump up to a second-rounder. With Vegas now advancing past the second round, the Predators have cashed in.
This boost gives Nashville an impressive 12 picks in the 2027 NHL Draft: one first-round, two second-round, three third-round, two fourth-round, two fifth-round, one sixth-round, and one seventh-round selection. They're also well-stocked for the upcoming 2026 draft, holding 12 picks including the 10th overall selection.
The connection between these two teams runs deeper than just this trade. It began in the 2024 offseason when Nashville signed Vegas star forward and 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Marchessault. Then, at the 2026 trade deadline, the Predators sent Cole Smith to the Golden Knights for a 2028 third-round pick and defenseman Christoffer Sedoff.
On the ice, results have been mixed. Hague provided consistent production in his first season with Nashville, tallying 15 points in 62 games. Meanwhile, Marchessault's performance has dipped, posting a career-low 31 points in 62 games. As for Sedoff, the newest addition has yet to make an impact, recording no points in 12 games with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals and appearing in just one of their three playoff games.
For Predators fans, this draft upgrade is a welcome silver lining—a reminder that even from afar, playoff success elsewhere can still benefit Nashville's future.