The New York Rangers find themselves in a pivotal position heading into the 2025-26 season. With a veteran-heavy roster, a tight salary cap, and several question marks surrounding secondary scoring and depth down the middle, now is the time to think long-term. One name that should be on President and General Manager Chris Drury’s 2025 NHL Entry Draft board... Brady Martin.
The 18-year-old forward out of the OHL has quietly built one of the most well-rounded resumes among his draft class. A standout for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Martin has demonstrated a rare blend of physicality, two-way awareness, and offensive upside that makes him an ideal fit for a Rangers team in need of grit, energy, and versatility.
What sets Martin apart isn’t just the numbers—though those are impressive. In his most recent OHL season, Martin posted 72 points in 57 games, showing he can contribute on the scoresheet. But it's how he gets those points that makes him so appealing. Martin thrives in high-traffic areas, using his strength and motor to win puck battles and create chaos in the offensive zone. He’s not the type to rely on open-ice rushes or highlight-reel moments. Instead, he grinds, cycles, and earns his offense through effort—something that present day playoff successes are built on.
He definitely doesn’t shy away from contact. In fact, his physicality is a major strength. Martin plays with a controlled edge, delivering consistent hits and making opponents uncomfortable with the puck. He plays with the kind of bite the Rangers haven’t consistently gotten from their bottom six in recent years, save for Will Cuylle.
Working on a Brady Martin Film Room... 💥💥💥#2025NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/qoIyf16ArK
— Daniel Gee (@DanielGScouting) June 7, 2025
Our colleague at Blue Line Station Conor Power wrote an article on Brady back in April, and since then, he has moved up substantially on the draft order. On Elite Prospects he can be shown ranked as high as 7th, and as low as 28th. This isn't, however, an inditement on his skills, but rather an example of how this draft class isn't exactly an open-and-shut case. Recently it was reported that the Utah Mammoth, Nashville Predators, Philidelphia Flyers, and Boston Bruins all took Brady out to dinner after his combine performance, and they are slated to draft well ahead of the Rangers at 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th respectively.
Dont be surprised if you don't see Brady Martin physically at the draft. Apparently he has plans to stay back and help around his family farm in Elmira Ontario. This should tell you everything you need to know about the type of person he is.
A fun little nugget: I'm told Brady Martin won't be going to L.A. for the NHL Draft. He's planning to stay home on the farm. There's seeding and choring to do and he wants to be with his family, who wouldn't have been able to leave the farm and come with him this time of year. https://t.co/orBRD6cwkS
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) June 5, 2025
While we've all heard the names swirling around this offseason like Mitch Marner and Jason Robertson, the name getting the most attention in this year's Stanley Cup Final is Sam Bennett. It's not a coincidence that guys like Martin have seen their draft stock rise while gritty goal scorers like Bennett have made their presence felt in the most important games of the year.
Brady Martin isn’t the flashiest name in the 2025 draft, but he might be one of the most NHL-ready in terms of skillset and structure. For a team that still has high end players but needs to future-proof its bottom six, Martin offers the kind of safe, smart, and competitive presence that could pay dividends sooner rather than later.
The Rangers don’t just need star power—they need glue guys. Brady Martin has all the makings of a good one.