Matt Martin (ice Hockey, Born 1989)
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Matthew Bryan Martin (born May 8, 1989) is a Canadian professional
ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
winger for 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 (N ...
of the
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(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
Jérémy Lauzon Jérémy Lauzon (born April 28, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Lauzon was drafted by the Boston Bruins in the second round (52nd overall) in the 2015 NHL en ...
in 2024. 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 joined the Blenheim Blades Jr. C club as a free agent. In 2006, he tried out with the
Sarnia Sting The Sarnia Sting are a junior ice hockey team based in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. They are one of the 20 teams that make up the Ontario Hockey League. They play out of the Progressive Auto Sales Arena (formerly the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment ...
of the
Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; ) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League, alongside the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The league is for players ag ...
as a walk-on, and made the team, playing on a line with
Steven Stamkos Steven Stamkos (born February 7, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Stamkos was selected first overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Sta ...
. He would eventually serve as the captain of the
Sarnia Sting The Sarnia Sting are a junior ice hockey team based in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. They are one of the 20 teams that make up the Ontario Hockey League. They play out of the Progressive Auto Sales Arena (formerly the Sarnia Sports and Entertainment ...
.


Professional

Martin was drafted in the fifth round, 148th overall by the New York Islanders in the
2008 NHL entry draft The 2008 NHL entry draft was the 46th entry draft for the National Hockey League. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario, on June 20–21, 2008. The Senators were originally awarded the 2005 NHL entry draft ...
. Martin was signed by the Islanders to a three-year entry-level contract on September 4, 2009. Martin scored his first NHL goal on October 29, 2010 against
Alex Auld Alexander James Auld (born January 7, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Auld played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Da ...
of the
Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
. On September 15, 2012, Martin agreed to a four-year contract with the Islanders. During the
2014–15 NHL season The 2014–15 NHL season was the 98th season of operation (97th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Phoenix Coyotes changed their name to the Arizona Coyotes prior to the season. The Los Angeles Kings became the first team ...
, Martin set the NHL record for most hits in a single season, recording 382 checks. 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 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. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
agreed to a four-year, $10 million contract, worth an average of $2.5 million a season. 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. 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 The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
. 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. He ended the regular season with 12 points in 50 games. On April 23, 2018, Martin was nominated for the
King Clancy Memorial Trophy The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is a sports award given annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community. The ...
, as a player who best exemplifies leadership qualities and made humanitarian contributions to the community. 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. 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. He was activated off injured reserve on November 26. On January 11, 2021, Martin was signed to a four-year, $6 million extension with the Islanders. At the conclusion of his four-year contract, Martin was an unsigned free agent leading into the 2024–25 season. On October 26, 2024, he continued his tenure with the New York Islanders by agreeing to a one-year contract.


Personal life

Martin is married to Sydney Esiason, the daughter of former NFL player
Boomer Esiason Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason (; born April 17, 1961) is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, primarily with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football for ...
. The couple has two daughters and two sons. Martin has an older brother who also played hockey and encouraged him to get involved in the sport. 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. In 2016, Martin was named a finalist for the NHL Foundation Player Award due to his involvement in the community and charity work.


Career statistics


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Matt 1989 births Living people Bridgeport Sound Tigers players Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Canadian ice hockey forwards Ice hockey people from Windsor, Ontario New York Islanders draft picks New York Islanders players Sarnia Sting players Toronto Maple Leafs players 21st-century Canadian sportsmen