Martin Gélinas (; born June 5, 1970) is a Canadian former professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
forward who played
1,273 games in the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
(NHL) for the
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...
,
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques (french: Nordiques de Québec, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Quebec City Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the W ...
,
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...
,
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, ...
,
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
,
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern ...
and
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators (commonly referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and ha ...
. A first round selection of the
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent ...
at the
1988 NHL Entry Draft
The 1988 NHL Entry Draft was the 26th NHL Entry Draft. It was held at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec.
The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Teemu Selanne, who retired after the 2013–14 season.
Selections by round
Below ...
, Gélinas was sent to the Oilers as part of the 1988
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky ( ; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed "the Great One ...
trade before ever playing a game for the Kings.
Gélinas reached the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
finals with four teams. He was a member of Edmonton's
1990
File:1990 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1990 FIFA World Cup is played in Italy; The Human Genome Project is launched; Voyager I takes the famous Pale Blue Dot image- speaking on the fragility of Humankind, humanity on Earth, Astroph ...
championship team and also reached the final in
1994
File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which Sinking of the MS Estonia, sank in ...
with Vancouver,
2002
File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...
with Carolina and
2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...
with Calgary. He tied a record in 2004 by scoring three series-winning goals in one playoff year, earning the nickname "The Eliminator". After playing his final professional season with
SC Bern
Schlittschuh Club Bern (''Ice-skating Club Bern'' in English language, English) is an ice hockey team based in Bern, Switzerland. They play in the National League (ice hockey), National League (NL), the top tier of the Swiss hockey league system. ...
in the Swiss
National League A
The National League (NL) is a professional ice hockey league in Switzerland and is the top tier of the Swiss league system. Prior to the 2017–18 season, the league was known as National League A. During the 2018–19 season, the league ha ...
(NLA), Gélinas turned to coaching and player development. He was named an assistant coach with the Calgary Flames in 2012.
Playing career
Junior
Gélinas played two seasons of
junior hockey
Junior hockey is a level of competitive ice hockey generally for players between 16 and 21 years of age. Junior hockey leagues in the United States and Canada are considered amateur (with some exceptions) and operate within regions of each cou ...
in the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (french: Ligue de hockey junior majeur du Québec; abbreviated ''QMJHL'' in English, ''LHJMQ'' in French) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The l ...
(QMJHL) for the
Hull Olympiques
The Gatineau Olympiques are a major junior ice hockey team based in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, that plays in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Starting with the 2021–22 season, the Olympiques play home games at Centre Slush Puppie, ...
between 1987 and 1989. He scored 101
goals
A goal is an objective that a person or a system plans or intends to achieve.
Goal may also refer to:
Sport
* Goal (sports), a method of scoring in many sports, or the physical structure or area where scoring occurs
** Goals, the goal frame in ...
and 107
assists in 106 games.
In his first year,
1987–88, Gélinas finished 10th in QMJHL scoring with 131 points.
He won the
Michel Bergeron Trophy
The Michel Bergeron Trophy is awarded annually to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's "Offensive Rookie of the Year (award), Rookie of the Year." From 1969 to 1980, the trophy was awarded to the QMHL's "Overall Rookie of the Year." The Bergeron ...
as offensive
rookie
A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year).
In contrast with a veteran who has experience and expertise, a rookie is usually inexperienced ...
of the year and was named
Canadian Hockey League rookie of the year in addition to being named a QMJHL first-team all-star.
Gélinas added 32 points in 17 playoff games as the Olympiques defeated the
Drummondville Voltigeurs
The Drummondville Voltigeurs are a junior ice hockey team of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The franchise was originally granted for the 1982–83 season, and is based in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, playing its home games at th ...
in the final to win the
President's Cup
The Presidents Cup is a series of men's golf matches between a team representing the United States and an International Team representing the rest of the world minus Europe. Europe competes against the United States in a similar but considerably ...
.
At the
1988 Memorial Cup
The 1988 Memorial Cup occurred May 7–14 at the Centre Georges-Vézina in Chicoutimi, Quebec. It was the 70th annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the junior ice hockey, major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (C ...
, Gélinas won the
George Parsons Trophy
The George Parsons Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged to be the most sportsmanlike at the Memorial Cup tournament. It was first awarded in 1974. The trophy is named for George Parsons, a former Ontario Hockey Association player who ...
as the most sportsmanlike player of the tournament.
The
National Hockey League (NHL) Central Scouting Bureau ranked Gélinas as the eighth best prospect at the
1988 NHL Entry Draft
The 1988 NHL Entry Draft was the 26th NHL Entry Draft. It was held at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec.
The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Teemu Selanne, who retired after the 2013–14 season.
Selections by round
Below ...
. He was selected by the
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and was founded on June 5, 1967, after Jack Kent ...
with the seventh overall pick.
Gélinas never played for the Kings as on August 9, 1988, he was included in one of the most significant trades in NHL history. The
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...
sent
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky ( ; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed "the Great One ...
,
Mike Krushelnyski
Michael "Krusher" Krushelnyski (born April 27, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre/left winger who played 14 years in the National Hockey League (NHL). While playing in the NHL, he won three Stanley Cups as a player with the ...
and
Marty McSorley
Martin James McSorley (born May 18, 1963) is a Canadian former professional hockey player, who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1983 until 2000. A versatile player, he was able to play both the forward and defense positions.
A form ...
to the Kings in exchange for Gelinas,
Jimmy Carson
James Charles Carson (born July 20, 1968) is an American former professional hockey player. He played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League with five different teams. In 1988, he became only the second teenager in NHL history to score 50 goals ...
, three first round draft picks and $15 million in cash.
As one of the key players coming to Edmonton in what he later called "the biggest trade in sports history", Gélinas endured the scrutiny of the Canadian media and pressure created by angry and disappointed fans after the Oilers dealt away a player in Gretzky who was considered a national icon. Gélinas began the
1988–89 season with the Oilers and made his NHL debut and scored his first point, on an assist, on October 7, 1988, against the
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
. He scored his first goal ten days later against
Jon Casey
Jonathon James Casey (born March 29, 1962) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota North Stars, Boston Bruins, and St. Louis Blues from 1984 to 1997.
Early life
Jon Case ...
of the
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...
but he was returned to Hull after six games to complete his second season of junior hockey.
Making his international debut, Gélinas played with the
Canadian national junior team at the
1989 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He recorded two assists in seven games for the fourth place Canadians.
Edmonton, Vancouver and Carolina
Joining the Oilers full-time in
1989–90, Gélinas recorded 25 points in 46 games.
At the age of 19, he was a member of Edmonton's "Kid
Line
Line most often refers to:
* Line (geometry), object with zero thickness and curvature that stretches to infinity
* Telephone line, a single-user circuit on a telephone communication system
Line, lines, The Line, or LINE may also refer to:
Arts ...
" playing alongside 22-year-olds
Joe Murphy and
Adam Graves
Adam Scott Graves (born April 12, 1968) is a Canadian former professional hockey player. He served 10 seasons with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He also played for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sha ...
. The trio provided an offensive boost in the post-season as the Oilers reached the
1990 Stanley Cup Final against the
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making t ...
. Edmonton won the best-of-seven championship series four games to one and captured the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
. After recording 40 points in
1990–91, Gélinas scored only 29 points the
following season.
The
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques (french: Nordiques de Québec, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Quebec City Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the W ...
, who had been criticized by local fans and media for failing to select Gélinas at the 1988 draft, attempted to acquire him in exchange for
Bryan Fogarty
Bryan Charles Fogarty (June 11, 1969 – March 6, 2002) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played for the Quebec Nordiques, Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens. A great star in the junior leagues and a high draft choice in the N ...
. The deal failed to materialize and Gélinas remained with the Oilers for the
1992–93 season where his offensive production again declined, to 23 points.
The Nordiques finally acquired Gélinas on June 20, 1993, in exchange for
Scott Pearson
Scott Pearson (born December 19, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player.
Playing career
Scott Pearson played his junior hockey with the Kingston Canadians, Kingston Raiders and the Niagara Falls Thunder of the OHL from 1985– ...
. He lasted only 31 games with Quebec before being placed on
waivers and claimed by the
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...
.
After scoring 16 points in 33 games to end the
1993–94 regular season with Vancouver, Gélinas added nine points in 24 playoff games.
The Canucks reached the
1994 Stanley Cup Final but were defeated in seven games by the
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York City borough of Manhattan. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home ...
. In the
lockout
Lockout may refer to:
* Lockout (industry), a type of work stoppage
**Dublin Lockout, a major industrial dispute between approximately 20,000 workers and 300 employers 1913 - 1914
* Lockout (sports), lockout in sports leagues
**MLB lockout, lock ...
-shortened
1994–95 season, he scored 23 points in 46 games and won his first of two consecutive
Fred J. Hume Awards as Vancouver's "unsung hero".
Gélinas finally achieved the offensive production expected of him when he was drafted by recording consecutive 30-goal seasons.
He scored 30 goals in
1995–96 and led the Canucks with 35 goals, was second to
Alexander Mogilny
Alexander Gennadevich Mogilny (russian: Александр Геннадиевич Могильный; born February 18, 1969) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player and the current president of Amur Khabarovsk of the Kontinental Hocke ...
with 68 points and recorded a four-goal game against the
Phoenix Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Coyotes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and currently play at the Mull ...
in
1996–97. He won three team awards: The
Cyclone Taylor Award
The Cyclone Taylor Award is the award given each year to the most valuable player on the Vancouver Canucks (a National Hockey League team). It is named after Cyclone Taylor, a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who led the Vancouver ...
as Vancouver's most valuable player, the
Molson Cup
The Molson Cup is an award presented to a distinguished player on Canadian ice hockey teams. After each game, the " three game stars" are selected, usually by a member of the media. At the end of the season, the player with the most three-star ho ...
for earning the most
three star selections and the
Most Exciting Player Award
The Pavel Bure Most Exciting Player Award is an annual award presented by the Vancouver Canucks to the player judged to be team's most exciting as voted by the fans. It is one of six annual team awards presented to Canucks players, awarded on the ...
.
A collision with Edmonton's
Dan McGillis
Daniel Stewart McGillis (born July 1, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, and New Jer ...
early in the
1997–98 season forced Gélinas out of the lineup with a sprained knee. He missed 16 games due to the injury and had only eight points in 24 games played.
His tenure with the Canucks ended January 3, 1998. He was traded, along with
Kirk McLean
Kirk Alan McLean (born June 26, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers and New York Rangers. ...
to the
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, ...
in exchange for
Sean Burke
Sean Burke (born January 29, 1967) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and the current director of goaltending for the Vegas Golden Knights. He played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils, H ...
,
Geoff Sanderson
Geoffrey M. Sanderson (born February 1, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger, most notably for the Hartford Whalers and Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Playing career
Drafted by the Hartford W ...
and
Enrico Ciccone
Enrico Pasquale Ciccone (born April 10, 1970) is a Canadian politician and former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He currently represents Marquette as a member of the Quebec Liberal Party.
Hoc ...
. Gélinas was added to Carolina's roster to add a physical presence to the team and improve the team at both ends of the ice. He finished the season with 24 points in 40 games with the Hurricanes,
and was invited to join
Team Canada for the
1998 World Championship. Gélinas scored one goal for the sixth-place Canadians.
Placed in a defensive role,
Gélinas's offensive statistics fell to 28 points in
1998–99 and 30 in
1999–2000.
The Hurricanes placed him on
waivers late in the latter season, but remained with the team after he went unclaimed.
His teammates expressed relief that he hadn't been moved the
following season as, after improving to 59 points,
Gélinas scored the game-winning goal to clinch a playoff spot for Carolina.
He recorded only one assist in six post-season games,
then accepted a lessened role with the Hurricanes as he was placed on the third line in
2001–02. Gélinas led the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history after scoring the overtime-winning goal in the sixth game of the
Eastern Conference final to eliminate the
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...
. Carolina fell to the
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
in five games in the
2002 Stanley Cup Final.
Calgary, Florida and Nashville
Gélinas chose to decline his contract option for
2002–03 and left Carolina as a
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
. He signed a contract with the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
on July 2, 2002. A 52-point season was fourth best on the Flames and included his 500th career point, a game-winning goal against the Detroit Red Wings on January 25, 2003.
Gélinas reached another career milestone during the
2003–04 season as he played in his
1,000th NHL game on December 9 against the
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and play their home games at the Xcel Ener ...
. His 35 points on the season was again fourth-best on the team.
In qualifying for the
2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League began on April 7, 2004, following the 2003–04 regular season. The playoffs ended with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning the Stanley Cup with a seven-game series win over the Calgary F ...
, the Flames reached the post-season for the first time in eight seasons. With eight goals and 15 points in the playoffs, Gélinas emerged as one of Calgary's post-season heroes. He scored the series-winning goal in overtime of game seven of the Flames' first round series against Vancouver. The victory advanced Calgary to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. Gélinas also scored the overtime goal that eliminated Detroit in six games, which made him the first player in NHL history to score three series-winning goals in overtime.
He then became the second player in NHL history to score three series-clinching goals in one playoff year by tallying the goal that eliminated the
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference, and are owned by San Jose Sports & Entertainm ...
and propelled the Flames into the
2004 Stanley Cup Final.
His heroics throughout the post-season resulted in Gélinas being called "the Eliminator".
The Flames'
Cinderella run ended in the final as the
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning (colloquially known as the Bolts) are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. They play th ...
won the series in seven games. The result was controversial as Gélinas appeared to have scored the tie-breaking goal in the sixth game that would have won the Stanley Cup for Calgary had the score held up. Television replays of the play showed that the puck deflected off Gélinas' skate and appeared to be across the goal line before Tampa goaltender
Nikolai Khabibulin
Nikolai Alexandrovich Khabibulin (; rus, Николай Александрович Хабибулин, p=xəbʲɪˈbulʲɪn, born January 13, 1973) is a Russian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Known by the nickname "The Bulin Wall", h ...
kicked it out of the net. The referees did not signal a goal, however, and no video review was requested. Tampa Bay went on to win the game in overtime.
As the
2004–05 NHL season
The 2004–05 NHL season was the National Hockey League's 88th season of operation. The entire 1,230-game schedule, that was set to begin in October, was officially canceled on February 16, 2005 due to an unresolved lockout that began on Septem ...
went unplayed due to a
labour dispute
A labor dispute is a disagreement between an employer and employees regarding the terms of employment. This could include disputes regarding conditions of employment, fringe benefits, hours of work, tenure, and wages to be negotiated during ...
, Gélinas spent the season in Switzerland.
He played one regular season and five playoff games with
HC Lugano
Hockey Club Lugano, often abbreviated to HC Lugano or HCL, is a professional ice hockey club based in Lugano, Switzerland. The team competes in the National League (NL) and has won seven Swiss championships.
History
The founding of HC Lugano took ...
in the
Nationalliga A (NLA), but otherwise spent the season with
HC Forward-Morges in the
Nationalliga B (NLB) where he scored 37 goals in 41 games and recorded 58 points.
A free agent when the NHL resumed play in
2005–06, Gélinas signed a two-year contract with the
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern ...
. Brought in as a capable veteran, he played all 82 games for Florida and scored over 40 points in each season.
Gélinas scored his 300th career goal in Florida's final game of the
2006–07 season.
Leaving Florida, Gélinas signed with the
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators (commonly referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and ha ...
for the
2007–08 season. He had 20 points in 57 games before suffering a
torn anterior cruciate ligament on February 21, 2008, game against the Vancouver Canucks that was ultimately his final contest in the NHL. Gélinas returned to Switzerland 2008–09 as he signed a contract to play with
SC Bern
Schlittschuh Club Bern (''Ice-skating Club Bern'' in English language, English) is an ice hockey team based in Bern, Switzerland. They play in the National League (ice hockey), National League (NL), the top tier of the Swiss hockey league system. ...
in the NLA.
In 27 games, he scored 15 goals and 22 points.
He retired following the season. In his NHL career, Gélinas played 1,273 regular season games and added 147 in the playoffs.
His former junior team, now known as the Gatineau Olympiques, retired his uniform number 20 in 2012.
Coaching career
The Nashville Predators hired Gélinas as their director of player development in 2009.
He had spent the final years of his playing career mentoring younger teammates, and Predators general manager
David Poile
David Poile (born February 14, 1950) is the President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the NHL's Nashville Predators. He is the son of the former NHL hockey player, coach and executive Bud Poile.
Career
Poile was a successful hockey ...
praised him as being an ideal person for the role: "we will depend on Martin and his experience, work ethic and professionalism to help develop our prospects into NHL players". Spending up to 20 days per month on the road, he often served in a coaching capacity by assisting players during practices when visiting Nashville's farm club, the
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Panther Arena. They are affiliated with the NHL's Nashvil ...
. He carried that experience back to Calgary in 2012 when he was hired as the Flames' assistant coach under
Bob Hartley
Robert "Bob" Hartley (born September 7, 1960) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach. He most recently served as the head coach of Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He has additionally coached the Latvia men's national ...
.
One of Gélinas' duties with the team is to work with the special teams units, both the
power play
Power play or powerplay or their plurals may refer to:
Sports
* Power play (sporting term), a sporting term used in various games
* Powerplay (cricket), a rule concerning fielding restrictions in one-day international cricket
* Power play (cur ...
and the
penalty kill
Short-handed is a term used in ice hockey and several related sports, including water polo, and refers to having fewer skaters (players) on the ice during play, as a result of a penalty. The player removed from play serves the penalty in the pen ...
.
Personal life
A native of
Shawinigan-Sud, Quebec
Shawinigan-Sud is a predominantly French-speaking settlement in the Mauricie area in Quebec, Canada, on the Saint-Maurice River. In 1996, its population was 11,804.
History
Shawinigan-Sud was incorporated as a village in 1912 and was called ...
, Gélinas is the son of René Gélinas and Lise Lebel. His father was a barber in Shawinigan-Sud. As a youth, Gélinas played in the 1983
Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament
The Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament (french: Tournoi international de hockey pee-wee de Québec) is an annual minor ice hockey event in Quebec City. The tournament was founded in 1960 to coincide with the Quebec Winter Carnival, ...
with the Shawinigan Cats
minor ice hockey
Minor hockey is an umbrella term for amateur ice hockey which is played below the junior age level. Players are classified by age, with each age group playing in its own league. The rules, especially as it relates to body contact, vary from cla ...
team.
Gélinas and his wife Jane have three children: son Matthew and daughters Cameron and Morgan. The family have made Calgary their permanent home since he first signed with the Flames in 2002.
Mathew is also a hockey player, and in 2013–14 is in junior as a member of the
Tri-City Americans
The Tri-City Americans are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League, based in Kennewick, Washington. The team plays its home games at Toyota Center (Kennewick), Toyota Center. Every game is broadcast locally on the Tri-City A ...
.
Active with charitable endeavours throughout his career, Gélinas was named the recipient of the
Ralph T. Scurfield Humanitarian Award in 2004. A Calgary Flames team award, it is given to the player who best combines on-ice leadership with a dedication to community service.
He is involved with the Calgary Flames Alumni Association's charitable events. Gélinas is also involved with Calgary's business industry, holding an interest in Calgary-based Whitecap Resources.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
International
Awards and honours
References
*
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gelinas, Martin
1970 births
Living people
Calgary Flames coaches
Calgary Flames players
Canadian ice hockey left wingers
Carolina Hurricanes players
Edmonton Oilers players
Florida Panthers players
French Quebecers
HC Forward-Morges players
HC Lugano players
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Sportspeople from Shawinigan
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