The Nashville Predators have made a decision on where Brady Martin will begin the 2026-27 season.
On Sept. 26, the Predators assigned Martin to the AHL Milwaukee Admirals, confirming that the 19-year-old will not make Nashville's opening night roster.
The Predators' top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft made the opening night roster last season, then played in three games before being sent back to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL). This season, thanks to a new rule allowing AHL teams to play at least one 19-year-old, Nashville can assign Martin to Milwaukee instead of sending him back to junior hockey.
Martin, who did not play in the Predators' 6-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sept. 26, was among the final forwards competing for Nashville's
final 23-player roster, along with Vitali Pinchuk, Adam Edstrom, and Reid Schaefer.
Though Martin scored a goal in the Predators' first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sept. 20, he didn't appear on the scoresheet in two games after that.
Brady Martin building his case to make the Predators roster out of training camp for the 2nd straight year.
— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) September 20, 2026
Note he’s eligible for AHL this season, so he doesn’t have to go back to OHL. pic.twitter.com/7PtWFbbXiH
The decision by general manager Chris MacFarland indicates the team thinks Martin could use more time playing top line minutes in a professional hockey setting. Martin will now begin the first year of his three-year entry-level contract and can be called up to the Predators at any time.
After assigning Martin, the Predators are down to 14 forwards, 10 defensemen, and two goaltenders. Earlier today, the Predators waived defenseman Justin Barron and picked up defenseman William Trudeau.
The Predators open the regular season against the Minnesota Wild at Bridgestone Arena on Oct. 1.
Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com, follow him on X at @alexdaugherty1 or check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville Predators assign Brady Martin to Milwaukee Admirals to start season
