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Matt Martin (ice hockey, born 1989)

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Not to be confused with Matt Martin (ice hockey, born 1971).

Matt Martin
Martin with the New York Islanders in 2015
Born (1989-05-08) May 8, 1989 (age 35)
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 New York Islanders
Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL draft 148th overall, 2008
New York Islanders
Playing career 2009–present

Matthew Bryan Martin (born May 8, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger 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 Jérémy Lauzon in 2024.[1] In the NHL, Martin has been described as both an enforcer and a grinder.

Playing career

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Amateur

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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.[2] He would eventually serve as the captain of the Sarnia Sting.

Professional

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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.[3] 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.[4]

During the 2014–15 NHL season, Martin set the NHL record for most hits in a single season, recording 382 checks.[5]

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.[6]

Martin with the Islanders during the 2013 playoffs.

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.[6][7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11]

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.[12] He was activated off injured reserve on November 26.[13]

On January 11, 2021, Martin was signed to a four-year, $6 million extension with the Islanders.[14][15]

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 in agreeing to a one-year contract.[16]

Personal life

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Martin is married to Sydney Esiason, the daughter of former NFL player Boomer Esiason.[17] The couple has two daughters.[18][19]

Martin has an older brother who also played hockey and encouraged him to get involved in the sport.[2]

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.[20] In 2016, Martin was named a finalist for the NHL Foundation Player Award due to his involvement in the community and charity work.[21]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05 Lasalle Vipers AA U16 AA — — — — — — — — — —
2005–06 Blenheim Blades GLJHL 40 11 12 23 102 — — — — —
2006–07 Sarnia Blast WOHL 9 2 5 7 16 — — — — —
2006–07 Sarnia Sting OHL 39 3 3 6 52 4 0 0 0 0
2007–08 Sarnia Sting OHL 66 25 13 38 155 9 3 3 6 16
2008–09 Sarnia Sting OHL 61 35 30 65 142 5 3 0 3 10
2009–10 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 76 12 19 31 113 5 1 2 3 4
2009–10 New York Islanders NHL 5 0 2 2 26 — — — — —
2010–11 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 7 1 2 3 11 — — — — —
2010–11 New York Islanders NHL 68 5 9 14 147 — — — — —
2011–12 New York Islanders NHL 80 7 7 14 121 — — — — —
2012–13 New York Islanders NHL 48 4 7 11 63 6 1 0 1 14
2013–14 New York Islanders NHL 79 8 6 14 90 — — — — —
2014–15 New York Islanders NHL 78 8 6 14 114 7 0 1 1 12
2015–16 New York Islanders NHL 80 10 9 19 119 11 0 0 0 12
2016–17 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82 5 4 9 123 6 0 2 2 6
2017–18 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 50 3 9 12 50 — — — — —
2018–19 New York Islanders NHL 67 6 8 14 53 8 0 0 0 0
2019–20 New York Islanders NHL 55 5 3 8 40 22 5 1 6 28
2020–21 New York Islanders NHL 54 6 5 11 36 19 1 1 2 43
2021–22 New York Islanders NHL 71 3 4 7 70 — — — — —
2022–23 New York Islanders NHL 81 7 12 19 63 6 1 0 1 16
2023–24 New York Islanders NHL 57 4 4 8 43 3 0 0 0 16
NHL totals 955 81 95 176 1,158 88 8 5 13 147

References

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  1. ^ "Predators' Lauzon Sets NHL Record for Hits with Massive Final Game". April 16, 2024.
  2. ^ a b LeBourdais, Dyan (July 20, 2011). "Road to the Coliseum: Matt Martin". NHL.com. NHL. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  3. ^ "Islanders sign forward Martin". New York Islanders. September 4, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
  4. ^ "Islanders, Matt Martin Agree To 4-Year Deal". CBS News New York. September 16, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  5. ^ "NHL Player Defensive Statistics – 2014–15". ESPN. April 16, 2015. Archived from the original on April 26, 2010. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Matt Martin signs four-year contract with Maple Leafs". NHL.com. July 1, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  7. ^ "Maple Leafs sign free agent forward Matt Martin". NHL.com. July 1, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  8. ^ Longley, Rob (September 24, 2016). "Matt Martin will have important role protecting young Maple Leafs". Toronto Sun. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  9. ^ Johnston, Chris (March 5, 2018). "Matt Martin with mixed emotions after getting back into Leafs lineup". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  10. ^ "NHL announces 31 team nominees for King Clancy Trophy". NHL.com. April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  11. ^ "Leafs ship Martin to Islanders for McAdam". The Sports Network. July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  12. ^ Johnston, Mike (November 15, 2018). "Islanders place Cizikas, Ladd, Martin on IR; Dal Colle, Gionta recalled". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  13. ^ Compton, Brian (November 26, 2018). "Capitals at Islanders preview". NHL.com. Retrieved December 11, 2018. Martin was activated off injured reserve and will play for the first time since Nov. 1
  14. ^ "NYI - Transactions". NHL.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  15. ^ "Islanders: Mat Barzal, Matt Martin and Andy Greene officially signed". Yardbarker. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  16. ^ "Islanders Sign Martin". NHL.com. October 26, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Longley, Rob (January 12, 2017). "Football great Boomer Esiason a super fan of hockey, Maple Leafs' Martin". Toronto Sun. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  18. ^ Sydney Esiason Martin [@sydneyemartin] (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" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Sears, Ethan (November 8, 2022). "Islanders' Matt Martin finding balance of hockey and fatherhood". New York Post. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  20. ^ Wright, Cory (September 14, 2015). "Poker Night Kicks Off Matt Martin Foundation". NHL.com. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  21. ^ "Martin Named NHL Foundation Player Award Finalist". NHL.com. May 3, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
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