CENTRE WELLINGTON – It’s every young hockey player’s dream to make the NHL.
For Brady Martin, who grew up on a farm near Elora, that dream could soon become a reality.
In June, Martin was drafted fifth overall by the Nashville Predators, making him a premium NHL prospect and the highest Predators draft pick in over a decade.
On Aug. 19, Martin signed a three-year entry level contract with the Predators worth close to $3 million.
Martin, 18, is a centre who has become known for not only being a skilled forward who can rack up points, but also the strong physical edge to his game.
He said growing up on the farm helped to instill work ethic, discipline and responsibility.
While the NHL draft took place in Los Angeles this year, Martin chose to stay home.
This year’s draft was decentralized, meaning potential players could attend the ceremony, but team officials stayed home and called in their picks, greeting their new players through video calls.
“So we were like, if it’s virtual, you might as well just do it from home, and we have a big enough property that we could have all my friends and family here, and that’s who I wanted to be with me while I have my special day,” said Martin.
“That was our decision, and I wouldn’t change anything about it.”
Martin said there wasn’t really a specific moment he realized he could make it to the NHL.
“I didn’t even think about it really. I was just playing hockey because I liked to play the game – loved it,” he said.
“Then all of a sudden, the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) draft came around, and then they drafted me to the Soo and then after that, it’s kinda history now.”
He’s played with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds in Sault Ste. Marie for the past two seasons.
Martin said he had a tough rookie season, during which he injured his knee in his very first game and missed a month, finishing with 10 goals and 18 assists in 52 games.
Last season Martin put up 33 goals and 39 assists in 57 games.
The strong year continued into the 2025 Men’s U18 World Championships, where Martin won gold with Canada and was the team’s second leading scorer, with 3 goals and 8 assists in 7 games.
With his contract signed, Martin is eligible to play in the NHL this season – but that doesn’t mean he will.
The majority of players, even early draft picks, are not full-time NHLers right away.
Martin’s entry level contract allows for a slide, which means the Predators can play him in nine games before the season will burn a year off his contract.
This is important considering Martin is not eligible to be sent down to the Predators AHL (American Hockey League) affiliate team, where players drafted from the OHL must be aged 20 and up.
If Martin plays 10 or more games for the Predators this season they can still send him down to the OHL, but the year will count towards his contract, and the Predators won’t be able to call him back up until his season in the OHL is over.
Martin, who has a rookie tournament and a full-team training camp with the Predators in September, just plans to work hard and see where it takes him.
“I’m just going in there and you know, work my tail off and see what happens and try to crack the roster,” said Martin.
“Even if I’m up there for the first couple games and they send me back, that’s a good step, and gives me a good step for next year and gives me a good push.”
Martin said he’ll go back to playing with the Soo Greyhounds if he is sent down to the OHL.
“The goal for me, I think, just get a couple games [in the NHL] this year, just see what the pace is like and then if they send me down then have a good year in the Soo again,” said Martin.
“Then the year after just come back even more prepared and ready to go.”
Martin also hopes to make Canada’s roster for the U20 World Junior tournament in December.
He played at the World Junior Summer Showcase in July, and said he will hopefully get an invite to November’s training camp.
Martin was a prospect who’s stock rose with teams before the draft, and thus was drafted higher than some people originally had him ranked.
Martin’s mother, Sheryl, said she has seen some fans online wishing the Predators drafted someone else.
She said the doubters will only motivate Martin to prove them all wrong.
