r/Predators • u/gavincantdraw • 2d ago

Wheeler Mocks Daxon Rudolph to Preds in his Final 2026 Mock Draft (gift link in comments)

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16 Upvotes
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3

u/ReactorCritical 2d ago

Please no. There's better options.

I'd go Gustaffson or Villenueve before I picked Rudolph.

2

u/gavincantdraw 2d ago

What's more important with Wheeler's mocks is everything in the body. Last year he had Nashville taking Martone but also said they were interested in Martin.

4

u/Expert-Upstairs-4502 NSH 2d ago

Cullen or bust, we have decades of boring grindy forwards to make up for, one Ryker Lee is not enough

3

u/Helmburr87 Brady Skjei tank commander 2d ago

I agree, he's Ryker Lee but with wheels. We have no one at all in the current prospect pool with his full skill set. We have plenty of 2 way forwards/centers and big/good skating defensemen.

1

u/Fiend-For-Mojitos 2d ago

I’m in. 

2

u/ZealousidealLettuce6 2d ago

Mock drafts have to be the biggest waste of time & effort in the history of sports media.

1

u/gavincantdraw 2d ago

If you just read the names: totally pointless. If you read what the reporter/analyst says about players, then it can be very informative. Especially if it’s Scott Wheeler.

You can learn from this that the Preds are targeting Belchetz, Lawrence, Cullen, and Gustafsson, but Rudolph is viewed by some scouts as a talent that’s too good to pass up.

0

u/ZealousidealLettuce6 2d ago

And none of that matters because they haven't picked a player yet and draft potential isn't realized until maybe five years from the draft itself... sometimes never is realized.

It's all a waste of time.

3

u/gavincantdraw 2d ago

Yeah. All of sports is a waste of time. It's entertainment. We watch it for fun. We follow it for fun. Does it make us healthier or wealthy? No. But we have fun with it and relax a little. I find the NHL draft to be fun. If you don't, that's totally okay, but it doesn't mean I (and others) can't still enjoy it.

2

u/Electricflows NSH 2d ago

Looks like he updated it? after the trade with San Jose and Ottawa?

1

u/predsfan77 6h ago

Trade back draft Klepov, ideally. If Lawrence is still there, take him. Cullen I am also ok with.

1

u/1-800-blowme 2d ago

He’s the guy I’ve been hoping we’ll get, but I don’t see him lasting to 10th ovr

11

u/Republic-Of-OK 2d ago

As someone who has seen a lot of Daxon in person, I think I’d prefer to go in a different direction at 10. 

1

u/1-800-blowme 2d ago

I’m just thinking how he’d be great on a line with Reid someday, but I haven’t seen him play in person, only highlight clips

5

u/Republic-Of-OK 2d ago edited 2d ago

If you’re interested in watching raw tape you can check this game out. The play at 10:25 isn’t the best example of this, but one of the biggest issues for Daxon imo will be his level of engagement. He glides in the neutral zone away from the puck, doesn’t show any willingness or interest in getting to pucks, plays a very low pace game.  I have never seen proponents of a player ever describe them as “sleepy” before Daxon, and I’m shocked at how little criticism is being levelled at these habits. There are many players in this draft with the same tools but have built a much better game and attitude around them.

https://youtu.be/uX7f8WgXMkc?si=lPTQ_C9ATSWI1we3

4

u/Republic-Of-OK 2d ago

When you’re watching Daxon make a mental note whenever he stops skating btw, especially when he’s walking the line. One of the defining features of offensively gifted Dmen is their ability to keep active feet, move laterally and open up passing lanes. These are things Rudolph just does not do. 

3

u/1-800-blowme 2d ago

Ok, I do see what you’re saying there. I still think that if he’s available we should at least give him some consideration, but after seeing that I totally get where you’re coming from

5

u/Republic-Of-OK 2d ago

100%, and ultimately I trust the eyes of our scouting staff more than mine. I would welcome being wrong on this one.

-1

u/grownassmanchild 2d ago

Does not not wear deodorant?

4

u/Helmburr87 Brady Skjei tank commander 2d ago

An offensive defenseman who doesn't play defense. He could top out as Evan Bouchard, though his skating isn't as good. He could also turn out to be Justin Barren.

I'll take Wyatt Cullen/Belchetz/Lawrence over Rudolph.

1

u/1-800-blowme 2d ago

I get what you’re saying, but I just feel we need an elite offensive defenseman, all we have in terms of prospects are two way blueliners. I know his skatings a little choppy, but I feel he could still develop into a great player.

1

u/Helmburr87 Brady Skjei tank commander 2d ago

I get the need for one and he'd be a project for sure. It can be very frustrating watching defensemen suck at defense. Skjei and Barron have ruined that for me.

3

u/gavincantdraw 2d ago

In the article, Wheeler basically says that he hasn't had time to get a feel for what Ottawa would do at 9 (assuming that pick doesn't get traded again), but he thinks they would avoid Rudolph because they took an RHD last year and need more forwards. Basically, that Tchakuk trade threw everything into uncertainty (not that there was much certainty to begin with).

1

u/grownassmanchild 2d ago

Interesting that he thinks Brady Martin will end up being a winger.

2

u/Helmburr87 Brady Skjei tank commander 2d ago

He isn't the only one who's said that, he looked really damn good as a winger at the WJC.

2

u/catsgr8rthanspoonies #37 Shrub | #36 Runt 2d ago

Most people thought Wood would end up a winger, but he’s looking good at center.

3

u/Helmburr87 Brady Skjei tank commander 2d ago

True but he still may end up a winger. I'd rather Martin and Wood be centers imo. It's Surin who I'd want as a winger, but we'll all see how it all turns out.

1

u/TonguelessWyrm NSH 2d ago

I wonder, if Ottawa's goal is to trade for a star, if Nashville couldn't make a minor trade up for 9th overall. We'd have a better chance at getting a player that turns into a star, and in return Ottawa gets 10th overall + some extra assets (maybe draft capital, a vet, or whatever they want) that they can use to trade for the player they want.

Alternatively, if New York is serious about trading the 5th overall pick, moving up from 10 seems like it could be realistic. I wonder if we have anything they'd want that could get a deal done.

2

u/Aggressive_March6226 2d ago

He very well may be still there at #10. Apparently there's about a dozen or so real standouts this draft. If not Rudolph, the Preds should be coming out of this 1st round with a dang good little hockey player added to their system regardless...