New York Islanders forward Matt Martin announced his retirement Tuesday after 15 NHL seasons. Following Martin’s announcement, Islanders General Manager and Executive Vice President Mathieu Darche named Martin a Special Assistant to the General Manager.
The Islanders selected Martin in the fifth round (148th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft and went on to play 855 regular-season games with the club, which is eighth-most in club history. Martin returned to the Island after two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored 178 regular-season points (81 goals, 97 assists) with the Islanders and Toronto Maple Leafs, while adding 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 88 Stanley Cup Playoff games. His 995 career penalty minutes as an Islander are the sixth-most in franchise history, while his 855 regular-season games with the club are eighth-most in club history. Martin’s 82 playoff games as an Islander rank 15th all-time and his 141 playoff penalty minutes are the eighth-most in Islanders history.
The 36-year-old played 32 games last season after signing a tryout contract.
During Darche’s interview with ESPN Radio Tuesday afternoon, the GM explained what Martin’s role as special assistant will be. “I’m going to have him involved in basically every facet. He’s going to be with us at the draft, and he’s going to be in our meetings. He’s here right now as we’re talking about the roster. We’ll have him do some amateur scouting, some pro scouting, and he’ll be going to Bridgeport.”
Martin contributed on and off the ice
Martin, along with Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck line has had many names during its Islanders tenure. Butch Goring called them the “E=MC2” line. Former CBC commentator Don Cherry called them “the best fourth line ever” in 2014-15. Barry Trotz renamed them the “Identity Line” after taking over in 2018. Whatever their name, the trio set the tone nightly with their physical play. He totaled 3,936 hits, which ranks second all-time in NHL history behind Clutterbuck.
Martin was a fan favorite both on and off the ice. He founded the Matt Martin Foundation to strengthen his connection on Long Island. He hosts an annual hockey camp and poker tournament during the offseason. He was the Islanders’ 2024-25 nominee for the King Clancy. An award presented “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
Martin will get his day on the ice in the future as he is all but certain to be inducted into the Islanders Hall of Fame.
Chara gets call to the Hall
Former Islanders Defenseman Zdeno Chara was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame Tuesday. The 6’9” defenseman was drafted in the third round of the 1996 NHL Draft (56th overall) and played with the Isles from 1997-01. Chara, along with Bill Muckalt and the second overall pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft (used to select Jason Spezza), to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alexei Yashin. It is widely considered to be one of the worst trades in Islanders history.
Chara spent four years with the Ottawa Senators (2001-06), 14 years with the Boston Bruins (2006-20), and a one-season stint with the Washington Capitals in 2020-21. He finished his career with the Islanders in 2021-22, where he scored his final goal on his final shot in his final game.
The Slovakia native accumulated 680 points (209G, 471A) along with 1,493 blocked shots and 2022 hits in his 24-year NHL career. Chara won the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011 and earned the Norris Trophy in the 2008-09 season. His 3,749 hits ranks third all-time behind Martin.
Chara becomes the ninth player in Islanders history to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, joining Denis Potvin (1991), Mike Bossy (1991), Billy Smith (1993), Bryan Trottier (1997), Clark Gillies (2002), Pat LaFontaine (2003), Roberto Luongo (2022) and Pierre Turgeon (2023).
The Bruins put out a great video on Chara’s career. It’s focused, of course, on his years in Boston. However, let’s not forget where the big Slovak got his start in the NHL.
