The Milwaukee Admirals keep doing what they’ve done for years: serving as the Nashville Predators’ most reliable launchpad for future NHL talent. And heading into the 2026-27 season, that pipeline looks loaded again.
With Nashville’s roster set up for a playoff push, Milwaukee should have the runway to let a new wave of prospects grow into bigger roles. The five players below stand out as the ones with the most upside, though the list does not include anyone who has already played five or more NHL games. That means names such as Joakim Kemell and Ryan Ufko are left out.
Aiden Fink made a loud first impression last season and looks like one of the organization’s most intriguing young scorers. After a dominant run at Penn State, the right winger put up 10 goals and 28 points in 30 games for the Nittany Lions in 2025-26.
Once his NCAA season ended, he jumped to Milwaukee and kept rolling, scoring three goals and totaling 10 points in six games as the Admirals locked down a playoff spot. Now that he’s got AHL experience, he heads into the season with real momentum.
Tanner Molendyk also turned heads in Milwaukee during his rookie campaign. The 2023 first-round pick produced four goals and 19 assists for 23 points in 60 games as a defenseman, giving the Admirals a much-needed boost on the back end.
He’s listed at 6-foot, 19- pounds and has to win with pace and skating, and that’s exactly what he does. Nashville sees him as a top-four defender, and he’s tracking that way.
Brady Martin sits in a trickier spot. He’s one of the biggest wildcards for opening night, and after President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Chris MacFarland went all out this offseason by drastically improving the team's bottom six depth, Martin’s path to a roster spot looks less certain.
That makes an AHL start with Milwaukee feel increasingly possible. He already got a taste of the NHL last season, appearing in three games and recording an assist.
In three playoff games with the Admirals, he also scored his first professional goal. There’s plenty to like about his future down the middle.
Felix Nilsson is another name that could land in Milwaukee this fall. He comes off a 40-point season with Rögle BK in the Swedish Hockey League, the top level in Sweden, and has since signed his entry-level contract with Nashville.
He’s been mentioned as one of the club’s under-the-radar prospects for good reason, because despite being a second pick, many fans still don’t know much about his game. That should change quickly once he gets a look at the pro level with the Admirals.
He’s an elite two-way center, and this season should give supporters a clearer picture of what he can do.
Cole O'Hara rounds out the group after a strong first full year in Milwaukee. The oldest player on this list at 24, he still made a strong case for attention by scoring 19 goals and 44 points in the regular season, then adding two more points in three postseason appearances.
He also appeared in one game for Nashville and picked up his first career assist. Even with the NHL experience already in hand, O'Hara remains right in the mix as a player who could make a real impact at the next level.