After 16 long NHL seasons, one of the New York Islanders fan favourites has decided to retire. He spent all but two seasons on the Island. On the ice, he was one of the best enforcers in the league. Off the ice, he was an even better leader and person. We are, of course, talking about Matt Martin, who today announced his retirement from the league. For 14 years in New York, he was beloved by fans and teammates alike. This announcement came today as a two-in-one, as he will now shift into a front office role. He will be a special assistant to the new general manager, Mathieu Darche.
#Isles News: New York Islanders forward Matt Martin announced his retirement from the National Hockey League today after 15 NHL seasons.
Islanders General Manager and Executive Vice President Mathieu Darche has named Martin a Special Assistant to the General Manager.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) June 24, 2025
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Matt Martin Retirement From The NHL
The now 36-year-old began his long NHL journey back in 2008. Martin was selected in the fifth round (148th overall) by the New York Islanders during the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the first seven years of his career as an Islander. This was before he elected to leave and join the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2016 offseason. He would spend the next two seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18) there in the Ontario provincial capital city. After his time in Canada, he decided it was time to come home. That is exactly what he did, rejoining the Islanders in the 2018 offseason. It was here that he would spend the last seven years of his career.
This past season was the least Martin has played since his rookie year. He came into camp on a tryout deal and did everything he could to make the team. However, he did and it was in an extra forward role. He didn’t see much game time, only appearing in 32 games. Martin finishes his career with 987 games played and 176 points in those games (80 goals, 96 assists). Of those 987 games, he played 855 as a member of the Islanders, which ranks eighth in franchise history. Amazingly, he ranks second on the all-time NHL hit list. Only trailing behind another former Islander and linemate, Cal Clutterbuck, who stands alone in first.
What It Means
For the Islanders, the Matt Martin retirement means they lose a key member of their locker room. Someone who was respected by everyone and was a great motivator. While he didn’t provide much on the ice during his last few years, there is more behind the scenes that we don’t see. That stuff is hard to replace, and other guys will have to step up and be vocal leaders in their room. As far as moving forward, Martin joining the front office is interesting. This means they get a former player’s intuition when it comes to making roster decisions. One who is very much in-tuned with the very team he is staying with in the organization. Someone who has been in the league for 16 years knows if a player has “it” or not. That should help in building a roster that is looking to return to the playoffs this coming season.
Main Photo Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
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