Matt Martin's Emotional Chat Ahead Of What Could Be Final Home Game

Tonight is about No. 17. So, for the fans in attendance, give him all the love you can because he’s left it all out on the table for you.

Stefen Rosner

and

The Elmonters

Apr 15, 2025

EAST MEADOW, NY — When the New York Islanders huddled together before leaving the ice following morning skate, Matt Martin was at the center.

There was a big cheer before his teammates let go of the collective hug.

Martin, a 16-year veteran — 14 with Islanders — is likely to play in his final home game of his career when the puck drops against the Wasington Capitals.

Signing a PTO to begin the season before getting a one-year deal, where he played sparingly, wasn’t the easiest of moves for the grizzled veteran, but it was a move that kept him in the Blue & Orange, which has meant everything to him.

Martin has always been a day-to-day kinda guy, so it wasn’t a shock that he didn’t have an answer as to whether this would, officially, be his last game, but the chances are relatively high.

As No. 17 shared, he isn’t really an emotional guy — that’s something his wife, Sydney, has pointed out to him on multiple occasions — we got to see that side of him when he was asked about how much this organization has meant, if this is it.

Words wouldn’t do his interview justice, so here’s the video:

I’ll be honest. I’m not on camera, but if it panned to the right, I was certainly getting teary-eyed.

How can you not?

Here’s what his head coach, Patrick Roy, had to say about what Martin meant to him since taking over behind the bench last January:

“I’ve known him for a year and a half now. I haven't seen a guy be so passionate about the game and love the game. I know that whatever decision he's going to make, he's going to remain in the game of hockey. You could tell how much he loves the game, and it was a tough situation, not a tough situation, but he knew about it, not playing. He was talking to the players. He had a great attitude about the situation, and I'm happy to see him playing. Even the players, they respect him so much and they have so much love for him. Tonight, Palmsy will give his ‘A’ to him. If it's his last game, at least it'll be a great moment for him, and we're going to start him in the starting lineup. Whatever happens after those two games with whatever decisions he's gonna make, at least we know we've done things the right way.”

Martin has done it all for this organization on and off the ice. He was the no-brainer decision for the team’s 2024-25 King Clancy Memorial Trophy nominee.

Tonight is about No. 17. So, for the fans in attendance, give him all the love you can because he’s left it all out on the table for you.