After trading the 135th overall pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for picks 202 and 209 in the seventh round, the Nashville Predators selected defender Luke Reid. Another overager—although only by 11 days—Reid patrolled the blue line for a stacked Chicago Steel team in the USHL last season. In 45 games, he scored two goals and 19 points, just fifth-best among the team’s defenders.
Reid, who is heading to the University of New Hampshire, is an excellent-skating defender with a strong leg extension, good knee bend, and smooth crossover step. If he could consistently keep his feet moving, both on and off the puck, he would be a much more dynamic player. He’ll need a few seasons in college to refine his decision-making with the puck, but he has the foundation to turn into a fine two-way defender.