Matt Martin (ice hockey, born 1989) explained

Matt Martin
Birth Date:May 8, 1989
Birth Place:Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:215
Position:Left wing
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Free agent
Former Teams:New York Islanders
Toronto Maple Leafs
Draft:148th overall
Draft Year:2008
Draft Team:New York Islanders
Career Start:2009

Matthew Bryan Martin (born May 8, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who is an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). Martin is known for his strong checking abilities. Martin previously held the NHL record for most hits in a season, losing the record to Jeremy Lauzon in 2024.[1] In the NHL, Martin has been described as both an enforcer and a grinder.

Playing career

Amateur

Martin tried out for his local AAA team, the Windsor Jr. Spitfires, but was cut and played AA hockey for the Lasalle Sabres. In 2005-06 he made the Blenheim Blades Jr.C. club as a free agent. In 2006, he tried out with the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League as a walk-on, and made the team, playing on a line with Steven Stamkos. He would eventually serve as the captain of the Sarnia Sting.

Professional

Martin was drafted in the fifth round, 148th overall by the New York Islanders in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Martin was signed by the Islanders to a three-year entry-level contract on September 4, 2009.[2] Martin scored his first NHL goal on October 29, 2010 against Alex Auld of the Montreal Canadiens.

On September 15, 2012, Martin agreed to a four-year contract with the Islanders.[3]

During the 2014–15 NHL season, Martin set the NHL record for most hits in a single season, recording 382 checks.[4]

The following season, during the 2015–16 campaign, Martin's line, consisting of himself, Casey Cizikas, and Cal Clutterbuck was considered to be one of the best fourth lines in the NHL by ice hockey analysts.

On July 1, 2016, as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career, Martin and the Toronto Maple Leafs agreed to a four-year, $10 million contract, worth an average of $2.5 million a season.[5] [6] In his first season with Toronto, Martin assumed his role as an enforcer, playing on the fourth line for the team and protecting the plethora of rookies on the roster from hits by other players, and fighting those that ran teammates.[7] The team would qualify for the post-season, with Martin picking up two points in the second game of the series which would see the Maple Leafs lose in six contests to the top seeded Washington Capitals.

During the 2017–18 season, Martin's playing numbers diminished and during a stretch in January and February he was a healthy scratch for 18 consecutive games.[8] He ended the regular season with 12 points in 50 games. On April 23, 2018, Martin was nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, as a player who best exemplifies leadership qualities and made humanitarian contributions to the community.[9]

On July 3, 2018, after two seasons with the Maple Leafs, Martin was traded back to the New York Islanders by Toronto in exchange for Eamon McAdam.[10]

During his first season back with the Islanders, Martin was placed on injured reserve on November 15 due to an upper-body injury that occurred on November 1. At the time, he had scored three goals in 11 games with the Islanders, matching his total from Toronto last season.[11] He was activated off injured reserve on November 26.[12]

On January 11, 2021, Martin was signed to a four-year, $6 million extension with the Islanders.[13] [14]

Personal life

Martin is married to Sydney Esiason, the daughter of former NFL player Boomer Esiason.[15] The couple has two daughters.[16] [17]

Martin has an older brother who also played hockey and encouraged him to get involved in the sport.[18]

In the summer of 2015, Martin started the Matt Martin Foundation to raise money for causes such as NYPD Widows and Children’s Fund, the Association for Children with Down Syndrome, the Boomer Esiason Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis and the Islanders Children’s Foundation.[19] In 2016, Martin was named a finalist for the NHL Foundation Player Award due to his involvement in the community and charity work.[20]

Career statistics

Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05Lasalle Vipers AAU16 AA
2005–06Blenheim BladesGLJHL40 11 12 23 102
2006–07Sarnia BlastWOHL9 2 5 7 16
2006–07Sarnia StingOHL39 3 3 6 524 0 0 0 0
2007–08Sarnia StingOHL66 25 13 38 1559 3 3 6 16
2008–09Sarnia StingOHL61 35 30 65 1425 3 0 3 10
2009–10Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL76 12 19 31 1135 1 2 3 4
2009–10New York IslandersNHL5 0 2 2 26
2010–11Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL7 1 2 3 11
2010–11New York IslandersNHL68 5 9 14 147
2011–12New York IslandersNHL80 7 7 14 121
2012–13New York IslandersNHL48 4 7 11 636 1 0 1 14
2013–14New York IslandersNHL79 8 6 14 90
2014–15New York IslandersNHL78 8 6 14 1147 0 1 1 12
2015–16New York IslandersNHL80 10 9 19 11911 0 0 0 12
2016–17Toronto Maple LeafsNHL82 54 9 1236 0 2 2 6
2017–18Toronto Maple LeafsNHL50 39 12 50
2018–19New York IslandersNHL67 6 8 14 538 0 0 0 0
2019–20New York IslandersNHL55 5 3 8 4022 5 1 6 28
2020–21New York IslandersNHL54 6 5 11 3619 1 1 2 43
2021–22New York IslandersNHL71 34 7 70
2022–23New York IslandersNHL81 7 12 19 636 1 0 1 16
2023–24New York IslandersNHL57 4 4 8 433 0 0 0 16
NHL totals955 81 95 176 1,15888 8 5 13 147

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Predators' Lauzon Sets NHL Record for Hits with Massive Final Game . April 16, 2024 .
  2. Web site: Islanders sign forward Martin. New York Islanders. 2009-09-04. 2010-07-17.
  3. Web site: Islanders, Matt Martin Agree To 4-Year Deal. September 16, 2012 . CBS News New York. 16 September 2012.
  4. Web site: NHL Player Defensive Statistics – 2014–15. https://web.archive.org/web/20100426085921/http://espn.go.com/nhl/statistics/player/_/stat/defensive/sort/hits/seasontype/2. dead. April 26, 2010. ESPN. 2015-04-16. 2015-04-16.
  5. Web site: Matt Martin signs four-year contract with Maple Leafs. NHL.com. November 3, 2016. July 1, 2016.
  6. Web site: Maple Leafs sign free agent forward Matt Martin. NHL.com. November 3, 2016. July 1, 2016.
  7. News: Longley. Rob. Matt Martin will have important role protecting young Maple Leafs. January 2, 2018. Toronto Sun. September 24, 2016.
  8. Web site: Johnston. Chris. Matt Martin with mixed emotions after getting back into Leafs lineup. sportsnet.ca. April 25, 2018. March 5, 2018.
  9. Web site: NHL announces 31 team nominees for King Clancy Trophy. NHL.com. April 23, 2018. April 23, 2018.
  10. Web site: Leafs ship Martin to Islanders for McAdam. The Sports Network. 2018-07-03. 2018-07-03.
  11. Web site: Johnston . Mike . Islanders place Cizikas, Ladd, Martin on IR; Dal Colle, Gionta recalled . sportsnet.ca . December 11, 2018 . November 15, 2018.
  12. Web site: Compton . Brian . Capitals at Islanders preview . NHL.com . December 11, 2018 . November 26, 2018 . Martin was activated off injured reserve and will play for the first time since Nov. 1.
  13. Web site: NYI - Transactions . NHL.com . January 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210117120258/https://www.nhl.com/islanders/team/transactions . January 17, 2021.
  14. Web site: Islanders: Mat Barzal, Matt Martin and Andy Greene officially signed . Yardbarker . January 17, 2021 . January 11, 2021.
  15. News: Longley. Rob. January 12, 2017. Football great Boomer Esiason a super fan of hockey, Maple Leafs' Martin. Toronto Sun. December 5, 2017.
  16. Sydney Esiason Martin . sydneyemartin . 1283511912307855363 . July 15, 2020 . Windsor Grace Martin our Winnie girl came into the world on July 14, 2020. We are so in love. @mattymarts17 https://t.co/8CzF3l255l . en . June 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200715230259/https://twitter.com/sydneyemartin/status/1283511912307855363 . July 15, 2020 . live.
  17. News: Sears. Ethan. November 8, 2022. Islanders' Matt Martin finding balance of hockey and fatherhood. New York Post. December 23, 2023.
  18. Web site: Road to the Coliseum: Matt Martin. LeBourdais. Dyan. July 20, 2011. NHL.com. NHL. December 5, 2017.
  19. Web site: Wright . Cory . Poker Night Kicks Off Matt Martin Foundation . NHL.com . December 11, 2018 . September 14, 2015.
  20. Web site: Martin Named NHL Foundation Player Award Finalist . NHL.com . December 11, 2018 . May 3, 2016.