Martin impressed me back at the Draft Day Showcase for his tactical and smart puck handling, which was once again the primary takeaway in the season opener event. Chase was always playing with his head up, operating with control, and able to dodge defender after defender with a calculated puck touch to win time and space and advance the play. Every time he had the puck, he operated with this tactical approach and managed the puck smartly. His whole game revolved around this theme of making the proper decision to move pucks up ice with control and be a key play driver for the Colts. Outside of his play as a puck transporter, Martin did a great job finding open space in the offensive zone and being in the right spot at the right time to receive a pass or jump on a loose puck for a quality scoring chance. Martin scored two in their elimination round victory over the Halton Hurricanes, including the overtime winner when he walked into the slot and ripped a shot high over the goalie's blocker to send the Colts to the quarterfinals.

In North America's first two games, Martin was his team's primary engine, making almost everything happen. His success mainly revolved around his smart and tactical approach to handling the puck. No matter what situation he was in, Chase could swiftly maneuver around a check, put the puck out of reach from a defender, and navigate to safety. These weren't flashy moves that end up on a highlight reel, but an overwhelming number of sequences where he used calculated and practical touches to maintain possession and advance play. Most of these sequences were low in the offensive zone or along the wall, where Martin thrived in small areas, dodged checks, and found ways to gain space, all under the theme of being a crafty puck handler. After winning separation with a quick move, Martin was constantly scanning for passing options in the dangerous parts of the ice, moving pucks to teammates in scoring position repeatedly. While he had flashes in the third and fourth games, it wasn't quite at the dominant level of the first two performances of the Draft Day Showcase, which really put him on my radar as a player to watch come league play this fall.