Matt Martin Retires After 16 NHL Seasons

Matt Martin, 36, announced his retirement after 16 NHL seasons, all but two spent with the New York Islanders. He ends his career with 81 goals, 97 assists, 1,168 penalty minutes, and 3,936 hits—ranking second all-time in NHL history for hits and first in Islanders franchise history. Martin was a pivotal part of the Islanders' identity, contributing to multiple playoff runs and two conference finals. Known as one of the last NHL players to play without a visor, his retirement leaves only four such players in the league. Immediately after retiring, Martin was named special assistant to new general manager Mathieu Darche, where he will mentor young players and help shape team culture. The Islanders missed the playoffs this season and currently hold the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.