Matt Martin (ice hockey, born 1989)

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 also holds the NHL record for most hits in a season. In the NHL, Martin has been described as both an enforcer and a grinder.

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
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 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

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.[1] 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 the best fourth line in the NHL by ice hockey analysts.[5]

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.[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 reported 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] On March 18, 2018, Martin and Esiason announced their engagement via Twitter.[16][17] They married on June 29, 2019.

He has an older brother who also played hockey and encouraged him to get involved in the sport.[1]

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.[18] In 2016, Martin was named a finalist for the NHL Foundation Player Award due to his involvement in the community and charity work.[19]

Career statistics
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 40111223102 —————
2006–07 Sarnia Blast WOHL 925716 —————
2006–07 Sarnia Sting OHL 3933652 40000
2007–08 Sarnia Sting OHL 66251338155 933616
2008–09 Sarnia Sting OHL 61353065142 530310
2009–10 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 76121931113 51234
2009–10 New York Islanders NHL 502226 —————
2010–11 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 712311 —————
2010–11 New York Islanders NHL 685914147 —————
2011–12 New York Islanders NHL 807714121 —————
2012–13 New York Islanders NHL 48471163 610114
2013–14 New York Islanders NHL 79861490 —————
2014–15 New York Islanders NHL 788614114 701112
2015–16 New York Islanders NHL 8010919119 1100012
2016–17 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 82549123 60226
2017–18 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 50391250 —————
2018–19 New York Islanders NHL 67681453 80000
2019–20 New York Islanders NHL 5553840 2251628
NHL totals 6926170131946 60641072

References
  1. LeBourdais, Dyan (July 20, 2011). "Road to the Coliseum: Matt Martin". NHL.com. NHL. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  2. "Islanders sign forward Martin". New York Islanders. September 4, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  3. "Islanders, Matt Martin Agree To 4-Year Deal". CBS News New York. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  4. "NHL Player Defensive Statistics – 2014–15". ESPN. April 16, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  5. "Matt Martin signs four-year contract with Maple Leafs". NHL.com. July 1, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  6. "Maple Leafs sign free agent forward Matt Martin". NHL.com. July 1, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  7. Longley, Rob (September 24, 2016). "Matt Martin will have important role protecting young Maple Leafs". Toronto Sun. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  8. Johnston, Chris (March 5, 2018). "Matt Martin with mixed emotions after getting back into Leafs lineup". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  9. "NHL announces 31 team nominees for King Clancy Trophy". NHL.com. April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  10. "Leafs ship Martin to Islanders for McAdam". The Sports Network. July 3, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  11. Johnston, Mike (November 15, 2018). "Islanders place Cizikas, Ladd, Martin on IR; Dal Colle, Gionta recalled". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  12. 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
  13. "NYI - Transactions". NHL.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  14. "Islanders: Mat Barzal, Matt Martin and Andy Greene officially signed". Yardbarker. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  15. Longley, Rob (January 12, 2017). "Football great Boomer Esiason a super fan of hockey, Maple Leafs' Martin". Toronto Sun. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  16. Hornby, Lance (March 19, 2018). "Leafs' Matt Martin pops the question to Boomer's girl". The National Post. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  17. @sydneyesaison (March 18, 2018). "Can't wait to marry the sh** out of ya 😜 I love you @mattymarts17" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. Wright, Cory (September 14, 2015). "Poker Night Kicks Off Matt Martin Foundation". NHL.com. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  19. "Martin Named NHL Foundation Player Award Finalist". NHL.com. May 3, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
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