Paul Martin (ice hockey)

Paul Joseph Martin (born March 5, 1981) is an American former ice hockey defenseman. He was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 62nd overall, of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, playing six seasons for the organization before joining the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2010 and later the San Jose Sharks in 2015.[1]

Paul Martin
Born (1981-03-05) March 5, 1981 (age 43)
Elk River, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for New Jersey Devils
Fribourg-Gottéron
Pittsburgh Penguins
San Jose Sharks
National team  United States
NHL Draft 62nd overall, 2000
New Jersey Devils
Playing career

2003–2018

Coaching career
Current position
TitleGraduate Assistant coach
TeamMinnesota
ConferenceBig Ten
Biographical details
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2020–2021Minnesota (Undergrad asst.)
2022–PresentMinnesota (Grad asst.)

Playing career edit

High school/collegiate edit

Martin played high school hockey at Elk River High School and was the Mr. Hockey award winner. In 2000, he was drafted in the second round, 62nd overall, by the New Jersey Devils. He has sound offensive instincts and a projectable frame, and is a classic stay at home defenseman. He was part of a successful program at the University of Minnesota in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). He helped his school win the 2002 and 2003 NCAA Division I National Championships.

Professional edit

Martin joined the Devils for the 2003–04 season, playing 70 games in his first full season, putting up 24 points. The next season, Martin played for Fribourg-Gottéron in Switzerland due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout. He returned the next season, this time appearing in 80 games while increasing his point production to 37.

During the 2006–07 season, Martin played the entire 82-game season, though his point total dropped to 26. During the 2009–10 season, Martin suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left forearm, playing in just 22 games and scoring a career-low 11 points.

Martin signed a five-year, US$25 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010.[2] He made his Penguins regular season debut on October 7, 2010, against the Philadelphia Flyers, picking up the primary assist on Tyler Kennedy's third period goal, the Penguins' first ever at the Consol Energy Center. He returned to New Jersey to face his former team for the first time on October 11, and finished the game with a goal, an assist and over 26 minutes of ice time in a 3–1 Penguins victory.[3]

Martin scored his first Stanley Cup playoff goal with the Penguins on April 13, 2012, against the Philadelphia Flyers in an 8–5 Penguins loss. He was scratched with an undisclosed injury for Game 4.

On July 1, 2015, Martin was signed as a free agent to a four-year, $19.4 million deal with the San Jose Sharks.[4] He lost to his former team, the Penguins, in the 2016 Stanley Cup Finals. On January 16, 2018, the Sharks assigned Martin to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda.[5]

On June 22, 2018, the Sharks placed Martin on unconditional waivers for purpose of a buyout.[6] He cleared waivers on June 23, 2018.[7]

He announced his retirement on November 14, 2018.[8]

International play edit

Martin was named to Team USA for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and again for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, along with then-Devils teammates Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner. Martin, however, did not see any action in the 2006 Winter Olympics, and missed the 2010 Winter Olympics due to a broken arm; he was replaced in the latter tournament by Tim Gleason.[9]

Martin was also named to Team USA for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where the U.S. failed to medal.

Philanthropy edit

In 2017, Martin launched the Shine A Ligh7 Foundation, a non-profit organization that distributes funds to qualified non-profit organizations who raise awareness and reduce the stigma for those affected by bullying, depression, and mental health issues.[10]

Career statistics edit

Regular season and playoffs edit

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1998–99 Elk River High School HS-MN 24 9 11 20
1999–2000 Elk River High School HS-MN 24 15 35 50 26
2000–01 University of Minnesota WCHA 38 3 17 20 8
2001–02 University of Minnesota WCHA 44 8 30 38 22
2002–03 University of Minnesota WCHA 45 9 30 39 32
2003–04 New Jersey Devils NHL 70 6 18 24 4 5 1 1 2 4
2004–05 HC Fribourg–Gottéron NLA 11 3 4 7 2
2005–06 New Jersey Devils NHL 80 5 32 37 32 9 0 3 3 4
2006–07 New Jersey Devils NHL 82 3 23 26 18 11 0 4 4 6
2007–08 New Jersey Devils NHL 73 5 27 32 22 5 1 2 3 2
2008–09 New Jersey Devils NHL 73 5 28 33 36 7 0 4 4 2
2009–10 New Jersey Devils NHL 22 2 9 11 2 5 0 0 0 0
2010–11 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 77 3 21 24 16 7 0 2 2 2
2011–12 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 73 2 25 27 18 3 1 0 1 0
2012–13 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 34 6 17 23 14 15 2 9 11 4
2013–14 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 39 3 12 15 10 13 0 8 8 6
2014–15 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 74 3 17 20 20 5 0 2 2 2
2015–16 San Jose Sharks NHL 78 3 17 20 22 24 0 5 5 6
2016–17 San Jose Sharks NHL 81 4 22 26 20 6 1 0 1 4
2017–18 San Jose Sharks NHL 14 0 2 2 2 7 0 0 0 2
2017–18 San Jose Barracuda AHL 18 0 2 2 0
NHL totals 870 50 270 320 238 122 6 40 46 44

International edit

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2001 United States WJC 5th 7 0 4 4 0
2004 United States WCH 4th 3 0 1 1 0
2005 United States WC 6th 7 0 0 0 2
2008 United States WC 6th 7 1 7 8 0
2014 United States OG 4th 4 0 0 0 2
Junior totals 7 0 4 4 0
Senior totals 21 1 8 9 4

Awards and honors edit

Award Year
College
All-WCHA Rookie Team 2000–01
All-WCHA Second Team 2001–02, 2002–03
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 2002–03
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team 2003 [11]

References edit

  1. ^ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". National Hockey League.
  2. ^ "Paul Martin signs five-year, $25 million deal with Pittsburgh Penguins". NJ.com. July 1, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  3. ^ "Shorthanded Devils continue woeful start with loss to Penguins". ESPN. October 11, 2010.
  4. ^ "Sharks sign defenseman Paul Martin". Mercury News. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  5. ^ "Sharks Assign Defenseman Paul Martin". NHL.com. January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  6. ^ "Doug Wilson Issues Statement on Paul Martin". NHL.com. June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  7. ^ "Paul Martin has cleared waivers. Brooks Orpik is on them". Elliotte Friedman on Twitter. June 23, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  8. ^ "Former Sharks defenseman Paul Martin announces retirement". nbcsports.com. November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  9. ^ Heakes, Greg (February 12, 2010). "Injuries causing Games nightmares". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  10. ^ "PAUL MARTIN SHINING A LIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH". nhlpa.com. September 7, 2017. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  11. ^ "NCAA Frozen Four Records" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 19, 2013.

External links edit

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Minnesota Mr. Hockey
2000
Succeeded by