No. 5 overall draft pick Brady Martin went from the Nashville Predators’ starting top line center to a healthy scratch in only two games.
After debuting in the Predators’ 2-1 opening night win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, then playing in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth, Martin has not played during the team’s current road trip – a 4-1 win over Ottawa, then a 7-4 loss to Toronto.
It’s a quick reversal of roles for Martin, one of the team’s brightest young forwards and a player who general manager Barry Trotz said “has given no indication that his game cannot translate to the NHL.”
Following the Predators‘ loss to Toronto Oct. 14, coach Andrew Brunette addressed Martin’s situation.
“With Brady, he’s had a tremendous camp. He’s an 18-year-old kid that we love to death. We want to put him in positions to feel comfortable, to get better. I think there’s no better opportunity right now than to learn from our guys and our veterans, to be in practice and to be around them,” Brunette said.
Martin won’t get the same development experience watching NHL games from the press box, but apparently Brunette and the Predators feel that’s the best place for him. Martin can play in up to nine games before the team must decide to either keep him in the NHL or send him back to Sault Ste. Marie in the OHL. He can still practice and travel with the team in the meantime – only games he plays in count against the nine games.
The trend suggests that Martin will be on his way back to the OHL soon. After his NHL debut, Martin said he was outmuscled at times, saying he “needed to hit the gym” more frequently. He played 12:44 his first game, then 10:40 in his second game, recording his first NHL assist.
The longer Martin doesn’t play, the slower his development proceeds. So will the Predators make a decision sooner rather than later?
“We’ll see where he goes,” Brunette said. “He’s handled every step so far, I’d expect him to continue to grow as a player, whether it’s up here or wherever he goes. We’re ecstatic to have him in our organization.”
The Predators’ top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Martin was scored 43 goals and 57 assists in 109 games for the Greyhounds in the OHL, adding six points in 16 playoff games. If he heads back to Sault Ste. Marie, he will be their top center and captain.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex atjdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.