Normally when teams make their selection at the NHL draft, they are welcomed to the stage by commissioner Gary Bettman and introduced to the team that drafted them.
But when the Nashville Predators picked forward Brady Martin at No. 5 overall on June 27, he was not at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Instead, he was at his family’s farm in Elmira, Ontario. After being introduced via Zoom on ESPN, he expressed gratitude for being selected by the Predators, then later explained his absence from the draft.
“With a different format this year, I just decided that I could have more people here with me, those who have been along the journey with me,” Martin told reporters via Zoom at Bridgestone Arena.
The NHL opted for a decentralized draft format for 2025. The draftees and league officials are in Los Angeles, where the broadcast is taking place, and the 32 teams were in their home offices, making their picks remotely.
Martin decided this was the opportunity to have his family close during his big moment.
“I just wanted to be home with my friends and family,” he said. “I love my family and family comes first for me.”
Martin just completed his second season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), with 33 goals and 39 assists in 57 games. As their top center and an assistant captain, Martin has totaled 43 goals and 57 assists in 109 OHL games, adding six points in 16 playoff games.
But back home in Elmira, Martin works the farm along with the rest of his family.
“There’s still work to do with the animals and stuff,” he said. “It was just more convenient for me and my family.”
A 6-foot, 178-pound right-handed skater, Martin is known for his incredible physical play from the center position. He’s a tenacious forechecker and is one of the strongest players in the draft class.
Part of that strength could have come from his work on the farm, where he said his responsibilities include tending to cows, chickens and “anything that his father asks him.”
“The qualities of being a farmer just helps you a lot,” Martin added. “The discipline, the responsibilities, everything. It’s definitely translated to hockey.”
At No. 5 overall, Martin is the highest forward drafted by Nashville since taking David Legwand at No. 2 overall in 1998.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex atjdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Predators’ top pick Brady Martin did not attend 2025 NHL Draft