The Nashville Predators have a long-standing tradition of targeting forwards early in the NHL Draft, but this year, they're seriously considering a change in strategy. With the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, the Predators are eyeing a deep pool of talented defensemen that could reshape their blue line for years to come.

Over the past nine drafts, Nashville has selected a forward with their first pick eight times. From Brady Martin at No. 5 overall last year to Egor Surin at No. 22 two years ago and Matthew Wood at No. 15 the year before that, the focus has been on adding offensive firepower. The only exception was goaltender Yaroslav Askarov in 2020. But this year, the script could flip.

"It happens to be one of those years where there's a lot of high-end defensemen at the top," said Jeff Kealty, the Predators' director of scouting, during a media session at Bridgestone Arena on May 13. While Kealty stopped short of committing to a specific position, he didn't hide his enthusiasm for the defensive talent available. "They have a lot of those attributes that we talk about that are projectable to be top-four type defensemen," he explained. "We'll see how it plays out, but certainly there's going to be a lot of defensemen."

The landscape of this draft is a sharp contrast to last year. In 2025, the New York Islanders took defenseman Matthew Schaefer at No. 1 overall, and he delivered a phenomenal rookie season with 23 goals and 36 assists, earning the Calder Trophy. But after Schaefer, only two of the first 10 picks—and four of the first 20—were defensemen. The Predators themselves selected Cameron Reid at No. 21 overall, the fifth defenseman taken in the entire draft.

This year, the story is different. Elite Prospects ranks five defensemen in the top 10 and eight in the top 20 in their April rankings. Among the standout names is Xavier Villeneuve of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, slotted at No. 6. With Nashville picking at No. 10, the opportunity to land a top-tier blue-liner is very real.

Tom Nolan, the team's head amateur scout, echoed Kealty's sentiments. "It's a very deep draft in the top 15 for defensemen," Nolan said on May 13. "All of them bring a different type of skill set, but they all have size and are really good skaters. We're hoping that maybe one of them can fall to us."

Two names generating buzz are Rudolph and Verhoeff. Rudolph, a 6-foot-2, 203-pound right-handed defenseman, boasts impressive offensive instincts. He racked up 28 goals and 50 assists in 68 games for Prince Albert, then added nine goals and 14 assists in the postseason. His combination of size, skill, and skating makes him a tantalizing prospect for a team looking to bolster its defensive core.

For the Predators, selecting a defenseman at No. 10 would mark a significant pivot from recent draft history. But with a wealth of talent available and a clear need for long-term stability on the blue line, this year's draft could be the perfect opportunity to invest in the future of their defense. Whether it's Rudolph, Verhoeff, or another standout, Nashville fans should be ready for a potential game-changing addition to the roster.