We waited deep into Friday night to finally see what the Carolina Hurricanes were going to do with the 31st pick in the first round. No one was convinced that the Canes would use the pick. At 10:56 pm, after almost four hours of waiting patiently, we were proven correct. The Canes didn't make their pick, sending it to the Nashville Predators.
The Canes traded the 31st pick to Nashville for the 42nd pick and the 57th pick in the second round. The Predators were one of the four teams that I thought the Canes could look to trade with, and I had the 42nd pick as the highest pick they'd receive. However, adding the 57th pick gives the team two picks in the second round on Saturday after starting the day with none.
This is the third year in a row that the Canes have traded out of the first round on draft night. In 2024, they sent their pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for two second-round picks. The two linked up again last season, with the Canes moving down five spots with Chicago while adding another pick in the second round and a fifth-round pick in 2027.
With the Hurricanes' pick, the Predators selected right-handed defenseman Tommy Bleyl. He's a puck-moving defender, providing 68 assists and 81 points for the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. By all accounts, this is a very good move for the Predators, grabbing a player who appeared to be poised for the mid-to-late first round.
Jordan Martinook was ready to announce the @Canes selection with the 31st overall pick...
— NHL (@NHL) June 27, 2026
Until they traded out of the selection 😅 #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/mo9G3lEiHp
The only downside to the Hurricanes trading out of the first round was that Jordan Martinook wouldn't be able to make the pick for the team. He was ready to go, but he'll likely have to wait until Saturday morning to get a little face time. It'll be a long night of planning for the front office, but it's a move that we knew was coming. It'll lead to a very fun Saturday for the Hurricanes.
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