Predators Draft Wyatt Cullen 10th Overall

His skating ability is great; he has great edgework and good top speed, but his stick-handling is what helps him become one of the best playmakers in the NHL Draft. His hands are able to guide the puck with ease, and his great IQ helps him find skaters charging towards the net.

The Predators get a much-needed scoring winger with some great play-making abilities and a familiar connection. Matt Cullen played with the Nashville Predators from 2013-15, and now his son will try to carve out a legacy with them.

THW Prospect Profile Excerpt

Adding to his impressive skating, Cullen is an excellent creator due to his creativity, deceptiveness, and vision. He has a deep bag of tricks, making him a constant scoring threat. In addition, he sees the ice very well, locating the highest-danger scoring option in an instant. At least against USHL competition, he mastered the art of deception, too.

Continuing with his offensive bag, Cullen has a powerful shot. He’s capable of scoring from tougher angles, too, so he can be difficult for defenses to contain in a plethora of ways.

He isn’t the cherry-picking type, either. If transitioning the puck from defense to offense isn’t on the table, he can hunker down defensively and support. When he gets the puck in a non-offensive situation, he’s willing to make the “right” play and not force anything too risky, even if he can be classified as a gambler.

For Cullen to be a dependable NHL player, coaches will likely want him to be versatile. In a lot of ways, he already is, showcasing two-way engagement and not shying away from the boards. He can be pushed off pucks, but he rarely puts himself in situations where that’s viable for the defense.

How This Affects the Predators’ Plans

The Predators get a dynamic scoring winger who has major potential if he fills out and defines his game. They have a ton of physical center prospects, such as Brady Martin and Yegor Surin, and Cullen could help dish them the puck down the middle.

Nashville already has Matthew Wood, Ryker Lee and Aidan Fink in their prospect pool, but Cullen is just 17 and has many years to grow in the Predators’ system and NCAA Hockey. Similar to the Malhotra pick by the Vancouver Canucks, it’s a perfect match between organization and player.