The NCAA's January ruling, which allows Canadian major junior hockey players to maintain their eligibility to play college hockey, has significantly impacted the Nashville Predators' prospect pool.

A whopping 18 players who have been drafted by the team or invited to development camp will be playing college hockey this fall or have plans to join the NCAA for the 2026-27 season.

Three players have left the Canadian Hockey League this year and will be playing in the NCAA next year, and one has plans to play one more season in Canadian juniors before making the move to the U.S. 

The Predators' prospects that have been playing college hockey have had massive success this season and are billed to have even bigger seasons this fall. 

Forward Teddy Stiga, who just finished his first season at Boston College, scored 30 points in 36 games. During Wednesday's 3-on-3 tournament at development camp, Stiga had an impressive showing, scoring in the championship game shootout and showcasing a strong offensive game. 

Stiga also commented on Boston College's success in drafting players to the Bruins after center James Hagens was selected by them seventh overall in this year's draft. Four BC players from last season's roster have been drafted by the Bruins. 

“We (BC) are kind of like Providence’s Providence," Stiga said, referencing the Bruins' minor league affiliate, the Providence Bruins. 

In the Big 10, Aiden Fink scored 53 points in 40 games in his sophomore season, coming off the previous season where he was a finalist for Big 10 Freshman of the Year. Fink played two seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League before making the jump to the NCAA 

"Something I've really been trying to get better in is deception," Fink said. "Looking one way, going the other way, that's the thing that I work on after every practice." 

He'll be joined by another Predators prospect, defenseman Mac Gadowsky, who transferred after two years at Army to Penn State. In his sophomore year at Army, he had 42 points in 38 games and finished in the top 10 in Hobey Baker Award voting 

"I try to play hard, but not let the team down," Gadowsky said. "With those little details, you've got to stay disciplined and make sure those details stay throughout the game." 

While a handful of players have been playing in college for a few seasons now, there is another group that is making the move out of junior to take advantage of the newly reformed NCAA ruling. 

Miguel Marques is leaving the Lethbridge Hurricanes for Maine, defenseman Luke Shipley will be playing for UMass Lowell after playing the Brandon Wheat Kings this past season and goalie Jack Ivankovic will be playing at Michigan after three seasons with the Brampton/Mississauga Steelheads.  

"I want to show people why I'm here and work as hard as I can," Ivankovic said.  

Two other prospects, defenseman Alex Huang and forward Viktor Norringer, have plans to attend college. Huang is committed to Harvard, and Norringer is committed to Boston University at the start of the 2026-27 season. 

Huang will likely play another season with Chicoutimi in the QMJHL 

Goalie Matteo Drobac is in a category of his own, moving from Canada's USports league to play for Miami (Ohio) next season. 

The final group consists of players in the United States Hockey League who are moving up, a commonality that has been prevalent for years. Ryker Lee will be at Michigan State in the fall, and Jacob Rombach is heading to Minnesota. Norringer will be in the USHL next season as well with Muskegon

"For me, I want to get bigger and stronger," Lee said on what he wants to do before heading to Michigan State. "My skating has been a big focus. I feel like I've taken big strides, no pun intended. It's been going well."   

So, who does that leave? The remaining group will most likely be in Milwaukee, and the lucky few will cut to play in Nashville. 

Felix Nilsson is expected to return to Sweden and Yegor Surin to Russia for the upcoming season.  

Center Brady Martin and defenseman Cameron Reid are two players who may return to the OHL if they don't make the Predators' main roster. Martin played for Sault St. Marie and Reid for Kitchener. 

Predators' prospects with plans on playing in NCAA

Miguel Marques, forward - Moved from Lethbridge (WHL) to Maine (Hockey East) 

Viktor Norringe, forward - Committed to Boston University (Hockey East) 2026-27; Playing at Muskegon (USHL) for the 2025-26 season

Adam Ingram, forward - Entering fourth year at St. Cloud State (NCHC)

Aiden Fink, forward - Entering third year at Penn State (Big 10) 

Ryker Lee, forward - Moved from Madison (USHL) to Michigan State (Big 10) 

Ryan Sullivan, forward - Entering third year at Colgate (ECAC) 

Teddy Stiga, forward - Entering second year at Boston College (Hockey East)  

Jack Stockfish, forward - Entering third year at Holy Cross (Atlantic Hockey)

Erik Pahlsson, forward - Entering second year at Minnesota (Big 10) 

Drew Hockley, defenseman - Entering second year at Quinnipiac (ECAC) 

Luke Shipley, defenseman - Moved from Brandon (WHL) to UMass Lowell (Hockey East) 

Jacob Rombach, defenseman - Moved from Lincoln (USHL) to Minnesota (Big 10)

Tristan Sarsland, defenseman  - Entering fourth season with Clarkson (ECAC) 

Mac Gadowsky - Transferred from Army (Atlantic Hockey) to Penn State (Big 10)

Alex Huang - Committed to Harvard (ECAC) 2026-27; Likely returning to Chicoutimi (QMJHL) for 2025-26 season 

Lawton Zacher - Transferring from Brown (ECAC) to Northeastern (Hockey East)

Jack Ivankovic, goalie - Transferring from Brampton (OHL) to Michigan (Big 10) 

Matteo Drobac, goalie - Transferring from West Ontario (USports) to Miami (NCHC)