In the lead-up to the 2025 NHL Draft, theScore is spotlighting eight of the most intriguing prospects in the class to help you get familiar with the top names before draft night.
Brady Martin is modestly ranked by Central Scouting and many other lists, but he's skyrocketed up some mock drafts in recent months as potentially one of the most NHL-ready prospects in this year's pool.
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 this month's 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 also shown the ability to lead as an assistant captain for Canada as well as the Soo Greyhounds.
Best fits
The Flyers have a foundational piece up front in Matvei Michkov, but Martin would still be a tremendous addition to a middling prospect pipeline. Philadelphia can go many directions with the sixth overall pick, but Martin fits the club's hard-nosed identity and, by all accounts, is the type of player new head coach Rick Tocchet prefers.
The Bruins, one of a handful of teams that took Martin to dinner at the combine, haven't picked in the top 10 since selecting Dougie Hamilton ninth overall in 2011, and they've whiffed on several first-rounders since. Nabbing a do-it-all center to potentially build around would be sensible for Boston as it navigates its first transitional period in a long time. Martin would instantly shoot to the top of the Bruins' prospect list.
The Penguins may not have the opportunity to draft Martin at 11, but he'd be a terrific get, and it's impossible for general manager Kyle Dubas to ignore a highly touted Greyhound. Pittsburgh has a severe lack of talent at center in its pipeline and will one day need to fill the holes left by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. We're not suggesting Martin is immediately capable of replacing those two, but he would be a good starting point.
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."
