Latest news with #MattMartin
New York Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
What Matt Martin's expectations are for new role in Islanders front office
Matt Martin always had interest in moving to a front-office role during his playing career. So when the Islanders offered him a role as special assistant to GM Mathieu Darche, it was a pretty easy call. Advertisement 'For now, it's just about I really do want to learn the ins and outs of everything,' Martin said. 'I think Darchy said I'm gonna have the ability to do a lot of different things. Spend some time with the scouts this week, at the draft. Pretty cool to see all the behind-the-scenes things that as a player you don't focus on or think about. That's a totally different perspective.' Martin has only been in the job a week but expects to play a role in every part of the Islanders' operations. That could include everything from the AHL club in Bridgeport to player development to evaluation and beyond. Matt Martin looks on during Islanders practice on June 30, 2025. Getty Images Advertisement In a perfect world, he'd like to build a long front-office career to go with the one he just finished as a player. 'Spent, obviously, a lot of time with Lou [Lamoriello], learned a lot from him. The first week or so with Darche, learned a lot from him too,' Martin said. 'I think the Islanders organization is in great hands with him. Pretty innovative guy, has a lot of ideas. Excited to learn from him and work with him.' Speaking publicly for the first time since announcing his retirement as a player, Martin didn't have much to say as far as reflecting on his career. Advertisement Matt Martin recently retired from his playing career. AP His emotions ahead of what ended up being his final home game said more than he could, anyway. For now, he's more interested in looking forward than back. '[Darche] said it to me 100 times that he wants to be challenged, wants to hear thoughts and ideas. It's been a great relationship so far,' Martin said. 'I've really enjoyed spending time with him. Look forward to learning a lot more from him, just like I did from Lou.' Advertisement Fourth-round pick Tomas Poletin told The Post he plans to play next season with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets after being taken first in the CHL Import Draft on Wednesday. Second-rounder Daniil Prokhorov was also selected by the OHL's Sarnia Sting. 'I think it'd be perfect for him playing in the OHL,' Bridgeport coach Rocky Thompson said of the 6-foot-6 Russian. Bridgeport announced the hires of David Cunniff and Chad Kolarik as assistant coaches.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mitch Marner's Five-Word Message After Former Maple Leaf Calls It a Career
Mitch Marner's Five-Word Message After Former Maple Leaf Calls It a Career originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner will hit free agency on July 1, and according to FanDuel Sports Network's Andy Strickland, he "will not be returning to Toronto" next season. Advertisement Marner has played the last nine seasons with his hometown team since being drafted fourth overall in 2015 by them. Over that span, the 28-year-old has recorded 221 regular-season goals, 520 assists and 741 points. Only time will tell which sweater he'll wear next season, but it's worth noting that teams like the Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes and Anaheim Ducks have all been mentioned as possible landing spots for Marner. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, former Maple Leaf Matt Martin "announced his retirement from the NHL and was named a special assistant to New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche." After word spread about Martin's retirement, Marner took to social media, reposting the NHL's "Thank you, wishing you all the best in retirement" post. He also added a message of his own to Martin. Advertisement "One of one❤️ congrats Bro!!" Marner said. Mitch Marner's Instagram story.@marner_93/Instagram Martin, 36, was drafted by the Islanders in the fifth round of the 2008 NHL draft. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with New York before joining the Leafs during Marner's first two years in the league (2016-17 and 2017-18). Together, they made two playoff appearances but lost in the first round both times. Martin then returned to the Islanders for the final seven years of his career. Over 15 seasons, he played in a total of 987 games, recording 81 goals, 97 assists, and 178 points. Related: Maple Leafs React to Major Auston Matthews Announcement on Monday Related: Potential NHL Expansion City Makes Big Move Toward Securing Team Wednesday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rare Group Featuring Jamie Benn Grows Even Smaller
And then there were four. With the retirement announcement from New York Islanders forward Matt Martin, the list of NHL players without a visor has lost one of the last five active members. That leaves only Jamie Benn, Ryan O'Reilly, Ryan Reaves and Zach Bogosian as the final four players to have their entire face exposed to the dangers of hockey, one last thing that reminds us of an era of hockey that used to be even more raw than today. Image Back in the day, no one was overly concerned on long-term effects, head injuries or making sure the best players stayed healthy for the good of the league. It was about toughness, big hits, chucking knuckles and a somewhat blissful oblivion to the real damage the sport could cause. Advertisement Now, the game is all about skill, speed and the best players showcasing the excitement of the league. It is not to say the players are not tough or physical anymore. The sheer speed of the game makes every hit and every play even more dangerous than in the no helmet era of generations past. No one is here to say one era is better than the other, but the four visorless players represent the last connection to a different time in hockey, and like it or not, should be appreciated for it. Who knows how long Reaves can draw into an NHL lineup, as his skill continues to decline with age so much so that it might not be worth keeping him in for his other attributes, which have given him a pretty good career in the league. Bogosian has played a bigger and better role in years past, up from seventh defenseman status to a regular in the Minnesota Wild lineup, but he too faces father time as he approaches age 35. Advertisement O'Reilly and Benn are the two most likely to finish as the last player without a visor, but Benn had a bit of a dry spell at the end of the season and throughout the playoffs for Dallas. Now, the Stars have a decision to make with Benn currently an unrestricted free agent and very minimal cap space for Dallas. The plan certainly seems to be in place for Benn to return, but there is still no contract in place. Until the final four are finally phased out of the league, we should appreciate the rarity of seeing a player without a visor. Chances are it will never be seen again in professional hockey. Make sure you bookmark THN's Dallas Stars site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Advertisement Signing Mitch Marner Will Not Answer All Of Dallas' Prayers Stars Sign Kole Lind to Two-Way Deal Former Stars Assistant Coach Hired By Boston Stars Sign Cameron Hughes to Two-Way Contract
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sydney Esiason bids emotional farewell to WAG life as husband Matt Martin retires from NHL after 16 seasons
Matt Martin retires after 16 NHL seasons, wife Sydney Esiason reflects on emotional end to WAG chapter (Image via Instagram) After a grueling and rewarding 16-year run in the NHL, Matt Martin has officially skated off into retirement. The veteran forward, known for his relentless physicality and team-first mentality, announced his departure from professional hockey on Tuesday. Having spent 14 of those seasons with the New York Islanders, Martin leaves behind a gritty legacy and nearly a thousand NHL games under his belt — 987 to be exact — along with 91 goals, 97 assists, and a staggering 3,936 hits. Sydney Esiason gets emotional as husband Matt Martin ends NHL career A fifth-round draft pick by the Islanders in 2008, Martin's career began with promise and perseverance. After seven seasons with the team, he took a brief detour to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016, signing a four-year, $10 million deal. But two years later, the Islanders brought him home — a reunion that turned into his final playing chapter. With his skates hung up, Martin is not straying far from the ice. He will now serve as a special assistant to the Islanders' general manager Mathieu Darche, stepping into a new phase within the same organization that shaped his career. Speaking on the emotional close of his playing days, Martin shared, 'This is a special place. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bangalore to Thailand Batik Airlines Book Now Undo I've been so proud to wear this jersey and be a part of this team and community… Through the good and the bad, the heartbreaks, all of it, it's always been a pleasure to be a part of this team and wear this uniform. ' As Martin transitions, so does his wife, Sydney Esiason, daughter of NFL great Boomer Esiason. Taking to social media, she reflected on what it means to step away from life as an NHL WAG. 'Official retirement from the WAG life,' she wrote on X. 'Awesome, fun, exhausting, emotional, weird at times and a thankless job so be nice to the next gen.' Married since 2019, the couple is now focused on family life with their four children — daughters Winnie and Alice, and twin boys Henning and Theodore, fondly nicknamed 'Bear,' who were born on June 1. For Martin and Sydney, this is more than just a retirement; it's the start of a brand new chapter filled with gratitude, reflection, and plenty of family moments ahead. Also Read: "Apologize to absolutely f-----g no one": Sam Bennett fires back at 'dirty play' claims during Panthers parade with a savage Connor McGregor twist Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Windsor native Matt Martin retires, leaving the NHL with just a few visor-less players
New York Islanders' Matt Martin (17) plays against the Pittsburgh Penguins during an NHL hockey game, March 29, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File) Matt Martin announced his retirement Tuesday after 16 NHL seasons, all but two with the New York Islanders, a departure that leaves the league with only a few players who take the ice without a visor. Martin was one of just five holdovers in the league who played without a visor on his helmet. His move to the front office as special assistant to Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche makes Ryan O'Reilly, Jamie Benn, Zach Bogosian and Ryan Reaves the only visor-less players remaining. The NHL and NHL Players' Association agreed in 2013 to mandate visors for newcomers, grandfathering them like helmets were decades earlier. Asked about it in November 2023, Martin figured it would be a major adjustment to put a visor back on, especially given how much of his job on the ice was fighting. He played his final of 1,075 regular-season and playoff games without one on April 17. 'If they mandated it, I would've wore it,' Martin told The Associated Press at the time. 'I took it off because of the role I play, and at the time, everybody that played that role didn't wear it. I got used to that, so I never changed.' Craig MacTavish, who played until 1997, was the NHL's last helmetless player. Martin called Benn and O'Reilly 'the odds-on favorites' to be the last without a visor. ___ AP NHL: Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
