On Sept. 26, thePredatorsassigned Martin to the AHL Milwaukee Admirals, confirming that the 19-year-old will not make Nashville's opening night roster.
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The Predators' top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, No. 5 overall, 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.
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) falls to the ice under Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Ross Colton (79) shoots the puck past Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers (27) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators with forward Jordan Staal (11) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) and forward Steven Stamkos (91) fight for the puck with Carolina Hurricanes forward William Carrier (28) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly (90) gets in position against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators center Adam Edstrom (84) battles Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Charles Alexis Legault (62) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg (9) passes the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) shoots against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) sets up to shoot against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly (90) battles Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) skates with the puck towards Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake (53) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague (41) fights for the puck with Carolina Hurricanes forward Mark Jankowski (77) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault (81) battles Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Robinson (50) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) skates past Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) falls to the ice under Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) falls to the ice under Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Ross Colton (79) shoots the puck past Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers (27) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators with forward Jordan Staal (11) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
4/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) and forward Steven Stamkos (91) fight for the puck with Carolina Hurricanes forward William Carrier (28) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
5/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly (90) gets in position against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
6/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators center Adam Edstrom (84) battles Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Charles Alexis Legault (62) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
7/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg (9) passes the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
8/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) shoots against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
9/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Alexander Kerfoot (14) sets up to shoot against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
10/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Ryan O'Reilly (90) battles Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin (74) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
11/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) skates with the puck towards Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake (53) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
12/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators defenseman Nicolas Hague (41) fights for the puck with Carolina Hurricanes forward Mark Jankowski (77) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
13/14
Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault (81) battles Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Robinson (50) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Inside Predators vs Hurricanes with best photos in final NHL preseason game
Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (2) skates past Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker (26) during the first period on an NHL preseason game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026.
Though Martin scored a goal in the Predators' first preseason game against theTampa Bay Lightningon Sept. 20, he didn't appear on the scoresheet in the two games after that.
The decision by general manager Chris MacFarland indicates the team believes 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.
