The Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators] may have gotten a steal in drafting forward Ryker Lee [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/players/analysis-could-ryker-lee-be-nashville-predators-next-star-forward] at 26th overall in this year's draft. After an impressive showing earlier this month at the Predators development camp, Lee is showing out with Team USA at the World Junior Summer Showcase this week in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In three games, Lee had five points [https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2025wjssstats] (two goals, three assists). He is tied with the Boston Bruins' 7th overall pick, James Hagens (one goal, four assists), for the most points in the tournament as of Wednesday. In game one against Finland, Lee capped off a 2-on-1 with Hagens for an easy tap-in goal. He'd score again in the third period, taking advantage of a loose puck after Jack Murtagh was taken down and wristed it in. On Wednesday against Sweden, the United States began playing the rest of the tournament as one team, rather than two, as it had started. In the second period, Lee made a cross-ice pass in traffic to Cullen Potter for a power-play goal and cut the Swedes' lead to 2-1. Lee struck again on the power play in the second as he'd let a shot go from the slot that'd trickle past goalie Herman Liv and was tapped in by Will Horcoff for the goal. In addition, Lee was profiled by The Athletic [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6517345/2025/07/29/ryker-lee-usa-michigan-state-predators/] on his "metamorphosis" into the offensively talented player he is today. Lee has been a Predator for a month, but in that time has shown a tremendous amount of promise for the future of this team. With Nashville being a traditionally bigger and tougher team, if Lee keeps progressing, he has a chance to be a true superstar in Nashville. Drafted out of the USHL [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nashville-predators-select-forward-ryker-lee-with-26th-overall-pick-in-nhl-draft], he was named league Rookie of the Year after scoring 68 points in 58 games with the Madison Capitols. That total was the fourth most in the league behind Will Zellers (Colorado Avalanche), Landen Gunderson (undrafted) and Giacomo Martino (undrafted). It'll be a bit before Lee has a chance to make his debut in Nashville, playing with Michigan State University in the fall, but he's a prospect who has a bright future ahead of him. Other Predators prospects playing in the World Junior Summer Showcase include Teddy Stiga (USA), Brady Martin (Canada), Cameron Reid (Canada), Jack Ivankovic (Canada), Daniel Nieminen (Finland) and Viggo Gustafsson (Sweden).
