The Nashville Predators spent their second pick of the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft on defenseman Tanner Molendyk, choosing him 24th overall.
From outside Bridgestone Arena, Predators captain Roman Josi and former goalie Pekka Rinne announced the pick of the 6-foot, 182-pound 18-year-old of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League.
In David Poile’s final NHL Draft as general manager of the Nashville Predators, and incoming GM Barry Trotz’s first, the team selected right winger Matthew Wood of Connecticut with the 15th overall pick.
Trotz told The Tennessean earlier this week the Predators were trying hard to move into the top five.
The pick was preceded by chants of “Let’s go, Predators!” The team went on the clock at 7:45 pm
As expected, the Chicago Blackhawks picked Connor Bedard with the first overall pick.
WATCH: The conversion: Watch Bridgestone Arena go from 2023 NHL Awards to NHL Draft in 25 seconds
NO.1 PICK: Connor Bedard is the NHL’s next big thing. But he was just a kid again in Nashville ahead of the 2023 draft
FINAL COUNTDOWN: What Nashville Predators GM David Poile had to say about his final week before retirement
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators pick Tanner Molendyk in 2023 NHL Draft, 24th overall