Who doesn’t like a centre who hits, and hits to hurt? Martin’s game to game play is one of consistent physicality and he impacts the game a lot. You don’t see young forward who already has mastered the mechanics and art of hitting. He impacts games offensively by using his heavy quick release, his advanced passing pays, and has some dangle, and frankly a lot of his offense is created through deceptiveness, and the fact that he so often attempts individual plays that his teammates. Regardless, he makes so many plays that are surprises, like pull-back passes, look-off dishes, sneaky across-the-slot movement to deflect shots, and exciting rushes where he pushes the puck just outside of the defender’s reach. Has an NHL-calibre shot that he can let go from the half wall. He’s punisher who initiates contact early going into the wall, creating space with reverse hits and more, and drives off the wall aggressively. And there has been more than one occasiion where he simply cannot harness his aggression, especially when he team is behind. Mid-January against Saginaw, he lit up Misa with one of the hardest hits I have seen in junior in a long long long time. When you see how well he anticipates on the forecheck, his workman-like compete, and his defensive acumen, you instantly think NHLer. His largest area of concern is lack of zone entry speed, as he tends to slow to a glide and try stickhandlng and is very predictable so he causes many failed entires and diminished offensive opportunities. I do see an NHL player, but one who needs to conform to better habits in his opportunites if he wants NHL success.
–Bill Płaczek–
