The draw is in, and we officially know where the Vancouver Canucks will be selecting at the 2025 NHL Entry-Draft.
Unsurprisingly, the club was held at bay and will select 15th overall. Given their odds to jump up, it’s a spot most predicted heading into the big reveal.
While it may not bring in the elite group of player many would hope for at the draft table, there should be several intriguing options for the Canucks to target at this spot. Fans may remember that Jonathan Lekkerimäki, arguably the team’s top prospect, was selected at 15th overall just a few drafts ago.
From here, the question shifts to what they will do with that pick. Given their increasing need for help up front on the main squad and few blue-chip prospects to offer, many expect the team to utilize that pick to bring in additional win-now assets.
But today, that pick is home to the Vancouver Canucks, so we plan accordingly.
Over the next few weeks, we will cover a few targets here at CanucksArmy, starting with the first-round hopefuls and working our way up to the late-round gems.
It’s no revelation that the organization could use a little of everything regarding youthful assets. Yet, when you look closer, it’s in dire need of centremen and right-handed options.
Will there be any players to check those boxes at 15? Let’s check.
Brady Martin
Team: Soo Greyhounds | Age: 18 | Position: Centre | Height: 6-foot | Weight: 174 lbs | Shoots: Right | Birth place: Elmira, Ontario, Canada
Are you consistently left hoping, wishing and preying that the Vancouver Canucks had more grit and truculences among its forward group? Well, Brady Martin blends some point production with an incredible never-quit, rough and tumble brand that screams “fan favourite” down the road.
Martin, a 6-foot, 174-pound right-shot centre, is one of the fastest rising prospects within the 2025 NHL Draft class. Playing for the Soo Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League, the sophomore pivot has put himself on the map as one of his team’s top players, nearly tripling his point totals from his rookie year (28 to 72) in roughly the same number of games.
Known as a forechecking wrecking ball, his relentless energy, physicality, and well-rounded skill set had initial projections placing him as a potential top-20 pick. However, his play has garnered some attention from scouts in recent weeks, and some post-U18 World Championship buzz suggests there’s a chance he squeezes into the top-10.
For the sake of the Canucks, we hope that’s not the case.
While not the most dynamic player on the ice, he is everywhere, all the time, zeroing in on opponents without sacrificing defensive reliability. With the bonus of being a right-handed centre, it’s hard to find a fit more destined than Brady Martin.
Did we mention that he wears number 44, reminiscent of a young Todd Bertuzzi?
Offence
Martin isn’t your elite point-producing forward, but his potent release and hefty one-timer are undoubtedly his weapon of choice.
Whether from in tight, off the rush, or from a booming one-timer, he can beat netminders clean with a powerful and quick release, typically labelled for the top corner.
Additionally, Martin’s strength enables him to create shooting lanes, muscling through defenders to find space. Given his relentless work ethic, he’s able and willing to dig for the puck and battle for possession at the netfront to get his cookies, making him an all-around threat from anywhere.
Just check out that goal map.
Chart courtesy of Hudl/Instat hockey
In the 2024-25 season, he finished second on the Hounds, notching 33 goals in 57 games and an additional two in five playoff games.
While his shot doesn’t yet have the pinpoint precision of elite snipers, its raw power and versatility make it a projectable NHL tool.
Though Martin’s goal-scoring will grab the headlines, his playmaking has become a reliable secondary skill.
His vision and hockey sense allow him to read plays and distribute the puck effectively, particularly in high-stress situations with pressure on him.
Martin recorded 39 assists in 57 games, second on the Greyhounds, and recently led Team Canada at the U18 World Juniors with eight (11 points) assists in seven games.
He excels at finding teammates in tight spaces, often delivering crisp passes to the slot or setting up plays off the forecheck.
His strength and ability to protect the puck with his lower body allow for tons of space and time to create opportunities.
Two-way Game
His skill and production potential may serve as the icing on the cake. However, the two-way game is the main course, with relentless effort and engagement as the key ingredients.
A natural forechecker, he hounds puck carriers with intensity, keeping his opponents on their toes at all times. You’ll hardly ever catch a moment with him giving up on a play and resting on a shift.
His physicality — delivering over three hits per game — disrupts opponents’ rhythm, and his shot-blocking — over one-and-a-half blocks per game — underscores his commitment to the team’s defensive side.
With over 150 hits on the year, he more than doubled that of the next highest of any Greyhound this season, while he led the charge in blocked shots to boot.
Martin’s high motor and lateral mobility make him a pest in transition, and he often neutralizes rushes with smart angles and, as always, relentless pressure. While his skating needs work, he can grind opponents down with his tireless motor.
He’s a fixture on the Greyhounds’ penalty kill, carrying the highest minutes among all forwards. He uses his anticipation and active stick to break up plays, while sacrificing his body to keep the puck from getting to the net at all costs.
While his faceoff win percentage (45%) from 2024-25 wasn’t significant, his defensive reliability makes him a coach’s dream with a strong foundation to work with. When there’s a defensive situation, there’s a good chance that Martin is on the ice.
If you’re looking for a gamer, this kid is it.
Skating
If there was an area in his game that begs for work, it’s in the skating department. As you’d imagine from a top-15 pick, it’s not poor, per se, but it lacks separating speed and top-end efficiency.
While not a burner, his powerful lower body and relentless drive make him effective in straight-line play, particularly when driving the net or battling along the boards.
But when it comes to beating out pucks or winning races, he’s not typically the man for the job. But, we’ve seen this before with Canucks picks in the past, and skating strides can be cleaned up with time.
An all-around game
Brady Martin’s all-around game is built on versatility, intensity, and intangibles, making him a low-risk, high-reward prospect.
His ability to impact games in multiple ways — scoring, hitting, and defending — draws comparisons to players like Joel Eriksson Ek or, to take it back even further, Brenden Morrow.
Martin has a track record of leadership, having worn the “A” for both the Soo Greyhounds and, most recently, Team Canada at the U18 World Juniors. A few years ago, he donned the “C” in his minor hockey days with the Waterloo Wolves U16.
Realistically, he projects as a middle-six forward, with a floor as a tenacious third-line centre and a ceiling as a top-six power forward if his offensive game continues to blossom.
But as a player with the trajectory of a fan favourite, providing energy, secondary scoring, and defensive reliability, he’s well worth the selection at the 15th spot.
The Ontario native may be our top target, assuming a handful of expected names are gone by this point. If we had not accepted they would be gone, Jake O’Brien (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL) and Anton Frondell (Djurgårdens IF, Allsvenskan), to name a couple, would have been on our target list.
Stay tuned for further profiles over the next few weeks. Please drop a comment if you had a target in mind for the 15th pick.
