After getting a brief taste of the NHL, Nashville Predators first-round pick Brady Martin is returning to the junior ranks.
The Predators have assigned Martin, 18, to the OHL's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, the NHL team announced Wednesday.
Martin played three of Nashville's seven games, well below the 10-game mark where the first year of his entry-level contract would kick in. The forward had one assist and two shots in the three games.
Martin was picked fifth overall by the Predators in this year's NHL Draft.
He made his NHL debut on Oct. 9 vs. Columbus at the age of 18 years, 207 days, becoming the second-youngest player in Predators history behind only Scott Hartnell (18 years, 171 days).
Martin will give a big boost to a Greyhounds team (8-5) that is third in the OHL's Western Conference. He had 33 goals and 39 assists for 72 points in 57 games with Soo last season.
