The Nashville Predators hold the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, their highest draft position in over a decade. With it, they’re reportedly eyeing two standout centers: Roger McQueen from the WHL and James Hagens of Boston College. Both are considered top-tier prospects and offer different strengths that could reshape the Predators’ roster in the long term.
Nashville Predators Target High-Impact Center Options
The draft lottery didn’t fall Nashville’s way, denying them a chance at the top pick. However, according to assistant GM Jeff Kealty, the team remains confident that pick No. 5 will still deliver a high-impact player.
“We’re in a good spot with all the picks that we have,” Kealty said during a media availability on May 6 at Bridgestone Arena.
Roger McQueen has become one of the more intriguing prospects in this year’s class. Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing nearly 200 pounds, McQueen already brings NHL-ready size. He began the season with a scoring burst, putting up four goals in his team’s opener, before a back injury cut his regular season short to just 17 games.
Now reportedly fully recovered, McQueen participated in all combine fitness testing and appears ready to prove his durability.
What makes McQueen appealing to the Predators isn’t just his size and style. He brings physicality and a scoring touch, which could serve the Predators well, especially with three first-round picks at their disposal. There is a risk in his injury history, but the reward may be worth it for a team in need of a game-changing center.
On the other hand, James Hagens has built his profile on precision and playmaking. The 18-year-old American center had a standout year at Boston College, tallying 37 points in as many games and anchoring Team USA to a gold medal at the World Juniors. He’s smaller at 5-foot-10, but makes up for it with elite vision, faceoff ability, and two-way awareness.
Though not seen as a generational talent, Hagens has all the tools to develop into a reliable top-six center. The Predators, needing consistency in their bottom six, could find Hagens a strong foundational piece, assuming he’s still available at No. 5.
Predators May Target Centers but Will Stick With “Best Player Available”
The Predators’ front office has made it clear that center is a priority, but not at the cost of passing up a higher-rated player on their board. Kealty and head scout Tom Nolan have reiterated that while the need is there, their draft strategy will follow the “best player available” principle.
Historically, the team hasn’t picked this high since 2013, when they selected defenseman Seth Jones at No. 4. With a weak offensive showing last season and organizational depth lacking at center, there’s strong incentive to go that route again.
There’s also speculation that the Predators might package one of their two late first-round picks to move up. General manager Barry Trotz hinted at that possibility, suggesting the team has flexibility and multiple directions it could explore depending on how the draft unfolds.
With 10 total picks, including three in the first round, Nashville has more than enough assets to make an aggressive move, either for a higher slot or to secure talent at other key positions, including goaltender.
Regardless of the approach, the 2025 NHL Draft could be a turning point for the Predators. Whether it’s McQueen, Hagens, or someone else entirely, the organization has a prime opportunity to reshape its future.