Islanders' Matt Martin retires after 15 seasons in the NHL
Matt Martin of the Islanders waves to the crowd following his final game at UBS Arena against the Capitals on April 15, 2025. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Longtime fan favorite Matt Martin left little doubt at the end of the season he knew his time with the Islanders was coming to an end.
He made it official on Tuesday, announcing his retirement as an active player after 15 NHL seasons, all but two with the Islanders.
But he’s not leaving the organization.
The Islanders announced Martin, 36, has been named a special assistant to recently-hired general manager Mathieu Darche.
Prior to what turned out to be his final home game as an Islander on April 15, the usually even-keeled Martin showed raw emotion as he fought back tears trying to describe what his time with the organization meant to him.
“I’ve been so proud to wear this jersey and be part of this team and community,” Martin said that morning, his voice wavering.
“You know, I obviously don’t know what the future holds. But through the good and the bad and heartbreaks and all of it, it’s always been a pleasure to be part of this team and wear this uniform.”
The Islanders selected Martin in the fifth round in 2008 and he played 855 games for the franchise. In all, including two seasons with the Maple Leafs from 2016-18, Martin compiled 81 goals, 97 assists and 1,168 penalty minutes in 987 NHL games. He added eight goals, five assists and 147 penalty minutes in 88 playoff games for the Islanders as he formed a longstanding fourth line with Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck, whose final season was 2023-24.
Clutterbuck (4,029) and Martin (3,936) are 1-2 on the NHL’s all-time list for hits, a statistic that has been kept since 2005.
Cizikas said he greatly appreciated how Martin was treated by opposing players and Islanders’ fans in what turned out to be the closing days of his career.
“It means a lot,” Cizikas said during the Islanders’ breakup day on April 19. “It shows the respect that everybody in this league has for him. He’s put his body on the line every single night. He’s not scared of anybody. He’s going to stand up for his teammates in every situation.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
