One of the best defenceman for the Kitchener Rangers has punched his ticket to the NHL.
During the first night of the 2025 NHL Draft on Thursday, Rangers defenceman Cameron Reid was selected 21st overall by the Nashville Predators. The pick came following a trade with the Ottawa Senators, with Nashville trading pick numbers 23 and 67.
The pick was announced by San Francisco 49ers tight end, and big Nashville fan, George Kittle, who called Reid “a beauty.”
“Unreal. Kind of speechless. I mean just the day. You think about it every single day leading up to it, so it truly is a dream come true,” Cameron said during his post draft presser.
Reid becomes the highest Kitchener Rangers draft pick since Radek Faksa, who was selected 13th overall in 2012 by the Dallas Stars. He is also the second Rangers to be drafted by the Nashville Predators, after Nick Spaling was taken 58th overall in 2007.
During the 2024-2025 season, Reid had 54 points in 67 games, the third most on the team and most among all defencemen. He was also the 10th highest scoring defenceman in the OHL this season.
“His 40 assists were good for the most on the Rangers roster, ninth best among all OHL defenceman and fifth best from all first time draft eligible prospects, including forwards,” the Kitchener Rangers said in a press release.
Reid joins Brady Martin of the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds, who was drafted fifth overall by Nashville earlier in the night. Reid said he and Martin go way back, having played spring hockey together since they were kids.
“It’s so sick to think about; (we) started off as kids, that’s when we first knew each other and now we’re 18 years of age going into development camp for Nashville,” said Reid.
Other Kitchener Rangers players to keep an eye out for include forward Tanner Lam, Luca Romano and defenceman Max Dirracolo.
Day two of the 2025 NHL Draft begins on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. on Sportsnet.