The Nashville Predators have assigned 18-year-old forward Brady Martin to the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL following his three-game stint in the NHL. Selected fifth overall in the 2025 Draft, Martin recorded one assist in his debut appearances. General Manager Barry Trotz praised Martin's performance and outlined his development path ahead.
Brady Martin, Nashville's first-round pick (fifth overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft, made an unexpected impact by securing a spot on the Predators' Opening Night roster. The 18-year-old from Elmira, Ont., born March 16, 2007, appeared in three games to start the season, recording one assist, two shots, and averaging 11:25 of ice time. His NHL debut came on Oct. 9 against Columbus, at the age of 18 years and 207 days, marking him as the second-youngest player to debut for the Predators behind only Scott Hartnell (18 years, 171 days). Martin also became the third player in franchise history to debut on Opening Night in the same year he was drafted, joining Hartnell (2000-01) and Seth Jones (2013-14).
The Predators assigned Martin to his junior team, the Soo Greyhounds, on Oct. 22, 2025, after a loss to Anaheim the previous night. This move keeps him under the nine-game threshold that would burn the first year of his three-year entry-level contract. As an 18-year-old, NHL rules prevent assignment to the AHL, so returning to the OHL allows him to play more minutes and develop further.
General Manager Barry Trotz spoke positively about Martin's brief NHL experience, where he lined up alongside veterans Filip Forsberg and Ryan O'Reilly and traveled through Canada to Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, and Winnipeg. "More than anything, he's done an excellent job," Trotz said. "He's an 18-year-old, got on our starting roster and showed really, really well."
Trotz highlighted Martin's adjustment to the NHL's intensity: "The game takes a lot out of you... you can't take a breath here, because [the opposition will] make you pay." He expects Martin to dominate at the junior level, potentially with Team Canada at the World Juniors, and views him as a future core player. "He's sort of the whole package," Trotz added. "He's going to be a core player for us for a long time, and he's got the right DNA."
Martin now returns to the Greyhounds, where he can build on his puck skills, physicality, and decision-making, positioning him for a full-time NHL role down the line.