Martin Ready for Big Season

This is the start of a big year for Swift Current Broncos defenceman Brycen Martin.

The 17-year-old is entering his first year of NHL draft eligibility and is ranked by NHL Central Scouting as a potential first round prospect.

"I had a chance to go and watch the NHL draft this year and the rankings were not accurate whatsoever," Martin said. "It really depends on what the team wants and the impression you make personally."

"I have to play my game simple as that," Martin said. "Don't have to change anything, don't need to get individual, I just have to play with my teammates and have good chemistry."

"A good team produces good prospects and that's what NHL teams want if you can be a good teammate."

The Calgary product spent his summer trying to get stronger for the battles on the ice.

"Tried to keep up on my skating but mostly it was lifting weights and getting stronger," Martin said. "Putting some carbs in my body and getting heavier. I'm definitely able to battle with the bigger guys. It's a lot easier than it was last year."

"This year I'm going to have to depend on myself a lot more not playing with a guy like (Richard) Nedomlel last year. It's an adjustment but I think I'm ready for it."

Martin's role should get bigger this year with the departure of veterans Reece Scarlett, Nedomlel and Dalton Reum. That means both spots on the top power play open up.

"I got a good taste playing on the second unit last year and got a bigger taste when Scarlett got hurt last year and I got to play first power play," he said. "I think we can step up."

Martin will now almost be in a leadership position with a very young group on the blue line. There are no 19 or 20-year-old defencemen on the roster and Martin has the second most games played of anyone else on their back end.

"I try to be a leader towards the young guys," he said. "I think the team looks good. That's what I'm more worried about. We've got a lot of offensive defencemen this year but they key is... we have to be good in our defensive zone."

Martin put up 19 points in 67 games in his rookie season.

He and the Broncos are off to Edmonton for the long weekend as they participate in the annual six team Oil Kings pre-season invitational.