On junior hockey’s biggest stage, two Nashville Predators prospects are putting on a show.
Brady Martin and Ryker Lee, both first-round picks by Nashville in the 2025 Draft, have been key contributors — Martin for Canada, Lee for USA — at the IIHF’s 2026 World Junior Championships.
The World Juniors features the top under-20 players from 10 countries, pitting them in a round-robin style international tournament. Following a four-game preliminary round, the top four teams play in a single-elimination playoff, competing for gold, silver, and bronze medals.
The tournament takes place from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 every year and rotates hosting sites. This year’s event is being held in Minnesota.
Canada and USA each have three wins with one game to play before the playoff.
Brady Martin opens scoring for Canada, has 4 assists
Canada didn’t have to wait long for Martin to make an impact. The 6-foot, 187-pound center scored Canada’s first goal in its opening game against Czechia, directing a pass from Gavin McKenna to spark a 7-5 win.
Martin has since added four assists in two more wins for Canada, including three assists in a 9-1 win over Denmark on Dec. 29. He ranks fourth on Canada with five points in three games.
Canada will play Finland to close out the preliminary round on Dec. 31 (7:30 p.m. CT, NHL Network) before the playoff begins on Jan. 2.
The Predators made Martin the No. 5 overall pick in June, then signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract in August. Martin made the roster out of training camp and started in a 2-1 win over Columbus on opening night. He scored his first NHL point on Oct. 11, assisting on Filip Forsberg’s goal against Utah.
After three games, Martin was returned to his OHL team in Sault Ste. Marie. In 13 games, he has five goals and 11 assists for the Greyhounds.
As per the NHL and CHL agreement, Martin must play the rest of the 2025-26 season in the OHL.
Two other Predators’ prospects have played for Canada so far. Defenseman Cameron Reid, taken No. 21 overall by Nashville in 2025, has one assist in three games for Canada. Goaltender Jack Ivankovic, taken No. 58 overall, made 26 saves in Canada’s overtime win over Latvia on Dec. 27.
Ryker Lee’s electrifying, game-tying goal for USA
Lee had perhaps USA’s best goal of the tournament on Dec. 29.
With USA down 3-2 in the second, Lee found room to the right of Slovakian goaltender Michal Pradel on the power play, then fired a wrist shot with pinpoint accuracy over Pradel’s shoulder to tie the game.
Lee’s shooting skills are what made the Predators take him at No. 26 overall in June. As a freshman at Michigan State, Lee has six goals, seven assists in 16 games on a stacked Spartans roster.
All signs are pointing to Lee being a steal of the 2025 Draft. The 6-1, 185-pound right wing’s scoring skills look NHL ready — quick release, deceptive timing, and the ability to change shooting angles. His skating, physicality, and compete level have all improved as well.
Lee has not signed his entry-level contract, but the Predators are likely to make that a priority this summer.
Another Nashville prospect, Teddy Stiga, has two assists through three games for USA. The Predators’ second-round pick in 2024 scored the gold-medal winning goal in last year’s tournament.
USA plays Sweden to close out the preliminary round on Dec. 31 (5 p.m. CT, NHL Network).
Two other Predators prospects, Daniel Nieminen (Finland) and Viggo Gustafsson (Sweden), have appeared in the tournament, but have yet to record a point.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at [email protected]. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
