Preds take Brady Martin, who skipped draft to work on farm, 5th overall
The Nashville Predators selected center Brady Martin with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday.
He didn't attend the event in order to spend time at his family farm instead.
Potential top 10 pick Brady Martin won't be in attendance at this year's draft because he has other priorities back home ๐งโ๐พ๐#NHLDraft | @FriedgeHNIC pic.twitter.com/nD6f6XGiYx
โ Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 27, 2025
A right-shot, two-way center who can punish opponents is a unique profile that's easy for NHL general managers to be enamored by. Martin drew a lot of attention at the scouting combine and said he wants to model his game after the likes of power forwards Sam Bennett, Tom Wilson, and Matthew Knies, according to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects.
While physicality and competitiveness are Martin's top traits, he's a strong skater with dependable smarts and skills. He ranked third among draft-eligible OHL players in goals this season and fifth in points.
Martin also shined at the most recent Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he helped Canada win a championship and finished second on the team with 11 points in seven games. He's shown the ability to lead as an assistant captain for Canada as well as the Soo Greyhounds.
What they're saying
"He's a very skilled forward who has the one-on-one abilities to beat a lot of NHL defensemen," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote. "He's creative as a puck-handler, and his offensive IQ impressed as the season went along even if not his calling card. His skill is appealing, but it's the combination of his skill with his compete that gets evaluators excited. Martin has a true hardness in his game, attacking the high-percentage areas, and is an extremely physical player."
"He plays extremely hard, he plays in the guts of the ice," The Athletic's Scott Wheeler wrote. "His effort level and physicality get the highest grades in the draft, and he stays involved in all three zones, constantly seeming to make things happen and have an impact on shifts and games. He's strong on his feet and finishing checks, delivering some of the hardest hits I saw all year and doing it seemingly every game without being a dirty player. He's got good hands and reflexes on tips and redirects around the net."