New York Islanders: Matt Martin Retires, Named Special Assistant to the GM

[seafoam]

It’s a no brainer for Mathieu Ice.

Matty Marts is beloved by the Isles Faithful so this hiring helps solidify him with the most diehard of fans, but also Martin could bring an outside-the-box perspective when it comes to player development and scouting.

This is a guy who bleeds blue and orange.

 

[seafoam]

June 24, 2025
By

Russ Macias

​

Darche On His Impressions of Martin:​

Darche first described how he first met Martin, and it wasn’t in the past few months. It was the beginning of Martin’s career, and the end of Darche’s:

“Well, the first thing is this first few years were my last few years playing, I had to make sure I wasn’t fighting him because he would have beaten me up. So I remember that from those first few years, he was intimidating. He had that long hair back then.”

Darche seems like a very honest guy

Darche’s humility is one of his best traits.

 

[Big L]

Congrats, Marty. Enjoy your retirement!

 

[SI90]

Matty going to be working!!

If I was the Islanders, I would have matt Martin, Josh Bailey Thomas, Hickey, Johnny Boychuk and Cal Clutterbuck at development camp

 

[miscs75]

 

[19 in a row]

Thank you Matty Mart.. class act. Great but not unexpected news that he will stay with the team. Love everything Darche has done/said so far (albeit a small sample and the heavy lifting is about to start).

 

[Islanders4Cups]

Matty going to be working!!

If I was the Islanders, I would have matt Martin, Josh Bailey Thomas, Hickey, Johnny Boychuk and Cal Clutterbuck at development camp

Add Anders Lee, but he has a least another 30 goals season ahead of him.

 

[doublechili]

I never understood why statisticians only count regular season games…

The league statisticians all work out of Toronto....

 

[Glorydays22]

Congrats Matty!!! one of my favorites So glad he's going to be in the organization!!!

 

[SI90]

 

[seafoam]

Lets clap it up for Matt, for what he was the fact that he played over 1000 total games in immensely impressive.

What a career for a Long Island transplant who is now a Native...

 

[seafoam]

I'm actually a bit emotional because Matt Martin retiring signals the end of a certain era (Best 4th Line In Hockey), but also because he was legit such a f***ing trooper for this franchise night in and night out.

I truly believe they should trade Cizikas since he was a sum of the parts of Clutterbuck and Martin. There's little reason to let him suffer and burn his reputation without those guys on the Island.

 

[SI90]

He knew

 

[Glorydays22]

He knew

love this guy....

 

[Bronson]

Mitch Marner to NYI: E4

 

[MattMartin]

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

He knew

With any luck, we and the hockey world will come to realize that he has MUCH to offer the organization off the ice as well, hopefully being astute at recognizing and working with talent while also knowing how to reach players at a psychological level, talking the talk, understanding the challenges, and aiding them through a variety of difficult situations.

I think nary a player, be he an NHLer, minor leaguer, or amateur, will be able to enter this organization without having immense respect for him.

And that might even come before they've watched his highlights and come to understand what he's meant for this team in his role for the better part of 15 seasons.

Everyone respects a warrior, especially one who wasn't felt to have really ever crossed the line in a role more defined by code than basically any other.



And if Marner should end up an Islander this summer, we'll all know exactly who made it possible...

 

[Chardo]

Mitch Marner to NYI: E4

Matt Martin cannot suddenly create major cap space for Marner, or make the Islanders a better destination than other suitors.

 

[Isles72]

they had some options to choose from but Martin is a solid choice

I thought Hickey could find his way into a position

 

[periferal]

There's a reason why I created a "Matt f***ing Martin" thread a few months ago (see below). One of my favorite Islanders of all time - Because he's one of the best people to ever put on that jersey.

I could not be more excited about him staying on in the front office. I have been calling for it for years....

This isn't just a PR move. I honestly believe Martin will be so helpful when it comes to advising Darche on current NHL players. I also know he has tons of respect throughout the league and that is going to lead to more front office relationships which can only help us long term.

There's a reason why the Washington Capitals all shook his hand after his final game. Guys...This NEVER happens for a 4th liner.

He's that special. Just love love love that he's not just staying with the franchise, but going to be working side by side with Darche. Couldn't be more happy with this outcome.

This all-world human being deserves his own thread. I said it years ago when his game started to fade...

Matt Martin should be hired into the Isles front office as soon as he is done playing.

He should always be a part of the Islanders organization as long as he wants to be. If Eric Cairns is the Director of Player Development, then Matt Martin should be President of Hockey Operations.

In fact, now that I mention it...

Anyway when you get down to it, I probably love him more than an other Islander over the past decade. Pure heart, class, and character. Obviously not the greatest hockey player, but everything you would want from a player and teammate...

 

[YearlyLottery]

Loved watching him play for the Islanders and that comeback was amazing. At the lowest point to the franchise he came back and went on some amazing playoff runs with the organization. I have no doubt that if this team can win the Cup one day he will be one of the first guys in management to raise it.

 

[periferal]

Consider this...

Matt Martin's new position with the Isles is the same one that Marc Bergevin and Jarmo Kekalainen have with the Kings and Sabres respectively.

And some Isles fans were ok with, or even wanted, one of those 2 to be the new GM. Absolute madness.

Again that's what the entire NHL thought of guys who were running entire franchises for years. A 4th liner with zero front office experience is now at their level.


#Perspective

 

[Bones45]

He’s not Penske material

I saw the title and Im like "assistant to the traveling secretary"!!!!!

 

[PK Cronin]

Consider this...

Matt Martin's new position with the Isles is the same one that Marc Bergevin and Jarmo Kekalainen have with the Kings and Sabres respectively.

And some Isles fans were ok with, or even wanted, one of those 2 to be the new GM. Absolute madness.

Again that's what the entire NHL thought of guys who were running entire franchises for years. A 4th liner with zero front office experience is now at their level.


#Perspective

The position doesn't have a set of rules or expectations like being the head coach or GM does, it's pretty much whatever the GM wants you to do, you do. There's no comparison to be made between what Martin will be tasked with and what Bergevin or Kekalainen were tasked with.

 

[periferal]

The position doesn't have a set of rules or expectations like being the head coach or GM does, it's pretty much whatever the GM wants you to do, you do. There's no comparison to be made between what Martin will be tasked with and what Bergevin or Kekalainen were tasked with.

Of course what you're saying is true, but again in your need to always be devil's advocate you distract from the point.