Matt Martin may have understood the inevitable was coming before the season’s last home game, when he welled up with tears after being asked about his emotions.
Now it’s official.
Martin, the heart-and-soul fourth-liner who helped define the most successful Islanders era since the Dynasty, announced his retirement Tuesday. In the same breath, he was named a special assistant to general manager Mathieu Darche.
Islanders stalwart Matt Martin has retired from his NHL playing career. Noah K. Murray-NY Post
“This is a special place,” Martin said that morning back in April. “I’ve been so proud to wear this jersey and be a part of this team and community. Obviously, don’t know what the future holds. 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.”
Fourteen years of Martin’s 16 in the NHL were played with the Islanders, a two-year run in Toronto from 2016-18 being the only time he suited up elsewhere.
He finished his career with 81 goals, 97 assists and 3,936 hits — second on the all-time leaderboard only to longtime linemate Cal Clutterbuck.
He played 987 games, falling short of 1,000 after playing just 32 games last season when he was added to the roster off a tryout contract. His 855 games as an Islander are eighth on the club’s all-time list.
“That’s a rare thing,” Martin said on breakup day. “For me to go somewhere else, didn’t work out there, basically fall right back into the role I was in here, I’m very blessed, grateful for that to happen.
“Long Island’s a great place. Didn’t know anything about it when I was drafted here. I started a family here. Plan on living here the rest of my life.”
A fan holds a Matt Martin sign during his final Islanders home game on April 15, 2025. Noah K. Murray-NY Post
Indeed, Martin adopted Long Island, following Clark Gillies’ example in being an active member of the community off the ice, running a summer hockey camp and a foundation that raises money for causes including cystic fibrosis.
Long Island, in return, adopted him.
“He’s been a big brother, literally from Day 1,” Mat Barzal said on breakup day. “He’s been a big brother to a lot of guys in this room, not just myself. He just does things right off the ice, on the ice. He works hard. Standup guy.”
On the ice from Long Island
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For much of his career, Martin was one-third of the Identity Line, playing on the left wing with Casey Cizikas at center and Clutterbuck on the right.
With Clutterbuck having last played in 2023, Cizikas will be the only one of the trio still with the Islanders next season — as stark a reminder of a new era as the change at general manager.
“We lived together a while back and it just goes back to me and him sitting in the car, heading to a game, singing songs out loud,” Cizikas said at breakup day. “Whatever song we had on the radio or whatever song we had playing, we’d both be belting the tunes out. It’s the little things like that that you remember.
“There’s so many things that have happened over the years between living together, getting married, being in each other’s wedding parties, having kids, them growing up at the same time being together. There’s just so many special moments that we’re gonna look back on and be able to talk about and laugh about when we’re older.”