If Nashville Predators first-pick round Brady Martin is to make his NHL debut as an 18-year-old, he’ll need more practice days like he had on Sept. 20.

“Brady Martin had a really good practice today,” coach Andrew Brunette told reporters at Ford Ice Center Bellevue. “I thought he was really good in the second scrimmage yesterday, too.”

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Martin, the Predators‘ top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft (No. 5 overall), has looked at home skating with Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly in camp. His momentum from a good performance in the rookie tournament, where he scored a goal and an assist against Tampa, has apparently carried into the main camp.

“In the rookie tournament, everyone’s the same age and trying to crack their roster,” Martin said. “But you get here with the veterans out there, they’re all very good players. It’s quite a bit different.”

Martin is competing with rookies and veterans for one of the spots on final 23-player roster, which will be named in the days leading up to the home opener on Oct. 9. In the meantime, he’s enjoying working with stars like Forsberg and Steven Stamkos on the ice.

“You watch them on TV and you dream of being in the NHL, so to be on the ice with them, it’s pretty cool,” Martin. said.

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What Brady Martin is learning from Steven Stamkos, Filip Forsberg

In two seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL), Martin scored 43 goals and 57 assists as a bruising top-line, two-way center. His playmaking ability, combined with his intense physical presence at both ends, is what drew the Predators to him.

Now he must prove he deserves NHL ice time.

“I’m just going out there and working my tail off,” he said. “Every time I get the chance to prove myself, I do it. Just working hard and showing the coaches what I have to bring.”

Martin focused mostly on speed in the offseason — including with a track coach — but now he wants to concentrate on shooting, knowing he has the perfect on-ice tutors in Forsberg, Stamkos, and O’Reilly. After camp practices, he has been working with all three on shot timing, speed, accuracy and power.

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“I just watch them,” Martin said. “With how quick the game is, you’ve got to be ready to shoot and you’ve got to be expecting a pass. Every time with those guys on the ice, they’re always looking to (pass) and you’ve got to be ready.”

Nashville opens the preseason with a home doubleheader against Florida on Sept. 21 (2 p.m. CT, 6 p.m.). Both games will be streamed on the Predators’ website.

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Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What Brady Martin is learning from Stamkos, Forsberg at Predators camp