With the first of their three first round draft picks this year, the Nashville Predators selected Brady Martin, a center playing from the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL.
The Predators likely raised some eyebrows with this pick, leaving players like Porter Martone, and James Hagens on the board to jump up and grab Martin. Once you get over the original sticker shock, you'll see that Martin is exactly the type of player that Barry Trotz loves, and that Nashville absolutely needs.
Martin is a center, which automatically checks boxes. He's incredibly skilled, like you'd imagine any top-five draft pick would have, but also brings a heavy aspect to his game. He's a physical presence who is willing to throw his body around and make an impact physically, even if he isn't scoring.
He averaged around three hits per game, Despite that, Martin is not a player who is starting a parade to the penalty box. He's compared himself to Sam Bennett, Tom Wilson, and Zach Hyman.
Skill-wise, Martin put up 72 points in just 57 games, 33 goals and 39 assists, showing that he can create as well as score. He was also very visible at the Under-18 World Junior Championships for Canada, putting up 11 points in seven games.
In addition to representing his country internationally, he wore an A for his team this season
Another aspect of Martin's game that is more difficult to quantify is his hockey IQ. Being a center means playing a 200-foot game and being active in all three zones. To be effective and to be considered at the top of the draft, you have to have a high-level hockey IQ, and Martin certainly does have it.
He knows where to be, how to be, and what to do no matter where he is on the ice. Even more important is that Martin knows how to anticipate where other players are going. It is a skill that scorers and hitters alike need to put themselves in positions to make those plays.
There are two aspects of his game that Martin needs to work on. Right now, his faceoff ability isn't quite what you would want from a top-line center. He was hovering around 46 to 47%, and he needs to be over 50% to be effective.
The other aspect that needs work is skating. His top line speed isn't on the high end, but his acceleration and lateral movement has been top notch. Those skills already being in place is a sign that Martin can and will improve his skating.
Martin isn't going to jump right into the NHL. He'll go back to the Soo Greyhounds for at least one more year. If he excels like he's projected to, then the Predators will be itching to have him come out to training camp and make the team. Martin will be here sooner rather than later, and Trotz and company will expect him to be a contributor once he takes the ice.
His selection is a turn page on the disaster of the 2024-25 season, with a look to the future.
Enjoy Martin's highlights and get ready for the future of the Predators.
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