Predators Send Brady Martin to AHL Milwaukee
Nashville assigned 2025 first-round pick Brady Martin to AHL Milwaukee on Saturday. The move is the first prominent use of the NHL's new rule allowing 19-year-old major-junior first-rounders to play in the AHL. Martin, who dealt with a shoulder injury and limited OHL action last season, did not secure a roster spot amid Nashville's center depth.
Martin was chosen fifth overall in 2025, Nashville’s earliest selection since 2013, and signed a three-year entry-level contract that August. After making the Predators out of camp last fall, he appeared in three games before returning to the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds.
A shoulder issue restricted him to 24 regular-season OHL games, and his scoring rate fell from 72 points in 57 games in his draft year. In three preseason appearances this fall, he recorded one goal and a minus-2 rating. Nashville also sent Ethan Haider and Hunter Skinner down.
The rule change could affect teenage major-junior players, NHL clubs, and junior teams by shifting where top prospects develop. OHL clubs may lose standout 19-year-olds earlier, while AHL fans could see more highly drafted talent. For Martin, the assignment may speed his adjustment to pro hockey or challenge his confidence. Nashville may gain flexibility and evaluation time, though the move could also raise expectations around how quickly young first-rounders should progress.