One of the NHL’s favourite farmers, Brady Martin had a taste of the NHL at the beginning of the 2025-26 season, playing in three games and registering his first NHL assist before getting sent down to the OHL by the Predators. Martin was named the Soo Greyhounds captain and also made team Canada’s 2026 World Junior team, where he registered eight points in six games before an injury shortened his tournament. That same injury limited Martin to 24 regular season games in the OHL, although it is worth mentioning he was a point per game player during his shortened season. Martin will be working hard to help the Soo Greyhounds make a deep run in the OHL playoffs and looks primed to make the Predators out of camp again in 2026-27, most likely as the third line center.

Martin is a physical force down the middle of the ice and hits everything that moves in an opposing sweater. When he has the puck on his stick, the 6-0 center has a never-ending inventory of slick stickhandling moves to generate scoring chances for himself or his teammates.

Selected fifth overall, Brady Martin is now a member of the Nashville Predators.

Few players go hard in the paint like Brady Martin. His competitiveness, his intensity and his confidence pop off the screen with every shift. Nobody will question his effort, especially not with how physically he plays.

Martin should have the chance to make the Predators out of training camp as the center, brings an element that should delight head coach Andrew Brunette. If the pivot is returned to the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), it will be to the Soo Greyhounds, where he recorded 72 points in 57 games during his draft-eligible season. Predators fans will not need to worry about Martin heading to the NCAA now that he has already signed a three-year, entry-level contract.

Final Rankings – Brady Martin is a dynamic, hard-nosed center in the mold of Sam Bennett, combining relentless energy with rare physicality for his age. His game is defined by an unmatched motor, devastating body checks, and a forecheck that overwhelms opponents. However, he’s far more than just a physical presence: he’s a legitimate dual-threat offensively. Martin can beat goalies from mid-range, battles fiercely in high-traffic areas, and is even better as a playmaker, disguising passes by manipulating defenders with his eyes or faking a shot before delivering a crisp tape-to-tape feed. While his skating was initially a concern, his stride improved throughout the season, and his agility at top speed is now a strength. Further refining his crossovers and lower-body strength will unlock another level. The most exciting part about Martin’s game is that it got better and better as the season wore on. Martin finished the season with 41 points in his final 27 games and finished as Canada’s second-leading scorer at the U18s, capped by a two-goal gold-medal performance. His blend of physicality, offensive polish, and clutch play makes him one of the most exciting and projectable centers in this draft class.—

That said, Martin is more than a wrecking ball on skates; he’s bringing a ton of skill too. He’s a force in transition due to his raw strength, and he brings soft hands to go along with it. It’s not uncommon to see Martin challenge a defender in the middle of the ice, just for Martin to immediately make a move into space to leverage his powerful shot.

While he’s relatively new to the first-round conversation, Martin has been pulling eyes all over the NHL since he’s been given the reigns with the Soo Greyhounds. Its possible we have another Jett Luchanko on our hands.