Misplaced within the Avalanche: Spencer Martin
Besides Nathan MacKinnon, there’s one different member of the Colorado Avalanche’s 2013 draft class nonetheless at the moment on a NHL roster, which can come as a shock. The unlucky season ending harm to New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin meant that Spencer Martin was recalled from the minors to function Dylan Garand’s backup till additional discover. There are a pair different former Avalanche draft picks and prospects showing in internet across the league, specifically Nashville’s Justus Annunen and Minnesota’s Calvin Pickard, however Martin’s connection to the Avalanche has doubtless lengthy since light from reminiscence.
Drafted within the third spherical in 2013 at 63rd total, Martin was thought of considerably a prime prospect as an acquisition by the Avalanche group. After ending his junior profession with the Mississauga Steelheads within the OHL, Martin started his Entry Level Contract with Colorado in 2015 and spent a complete of 4 seasons of their minor league system. Appearances wee principally with the affiliate San Antonio Rampage but additionally as a member the 2018-19 inaugural Colorado Eagles’ AHL season wherein at one level Martin recorded an astonishing 68-save shutout. Highlights throughout his tenure additionally included an look on the AHL All-Star recreation in 2017 in addition to three video games with the Avalanche in that fateful 2016-17 season.
At the conclusion of the 2018-19 season the Avalanche selected to not lengthen Martin his qualifying provide which made him a free agent however he wasn’t available on the market lengthy because the Tampa Bay Lightning signed him to a one-year two-way NHL contract. He would earn two extra one-year contracts with the membership although the netminder would by no means make an look within the NHL with the Lightning.
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Before that third contract began, Tampa Bay traded Martin to Vancouver in the summertime of 2021 for future issues nevertheless it was the transfer he wanted to get again to the NHL. On January 21, 2022, precisely 5 years to the day after his NHL debut with Colorado, Martin obtained his first alternative to start out in Vancouver after which every week later earned his first NHL win making 33 saves in a 5-1 victory over Winnipeg. At the tip of the 2021-22 season Vancouver gave Martin a two-year one-way contract extension value $1.53 million and he began 27 video games within the 2022-23 marketing campaign with a 11-15-1 document.
In the second 12 months of that contract, nevertheless, Martin discovered himself on the transfer once more first getting claimed on waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets initially of the 2023-24 season the place he began ten video games and collected a 3-8-1 document. The Carolina Hurricanes subsequently claimed Martin in January of 2024 on waivers as effectively and he then began six video games for them with a 4-1-1 document. The Hurricanes determined to maintain Martin round for one more 12 months within the 2024-25 season signing him to a $775k contract as he then cut up the season between Carolina, accumulating one other seven NHL video games and a 3-4-1 document, and the remainder of the time with their AHL affiliate in Chicago.
The fall of 2025 introduced a brand new problem as Martin determined to play abroad for the primary time in his profession and signed a contract with CSKA within the KHL. He loved a sizzling begin there and over 14 begins compiled a 5-6-2 document, two shutouts and a .905 save share with a 2.69 Goal Against Average. That caught the eye of the New York Rangers who signed Martin to a two-year one-way contract value $1.625 million to complete out the remainder of the 2025-26 season. He made 4 begins in January of 2026 with an 1-4-0 document and he’s at the moment enjoying out the second 12 months of that deal.
Now at the moment with the New York Rangers whereas the group types their depth in internet for the remainder of the 12 months, Martin made his first look this season in mop-up responsibility in a 7-1 defeat to New Jersey a pair nights in the past. In that recreation Martin gave up three targets on 18 photographs however did not take the loss. Should the Rangers make an acquisition or when veteran goaltender Joonas Korpisalo will get wholesome, Martin then certainly would return to the Hartford Wolfpack within the AHL however for now he has a spot within the Big Apple below the intense lights.
It’s been a protracted profession for Spencer Martin spanning six NHL organizations, quite a few minor league stints and even a pair months within the KHL. It takes loads to earn the popularity as an insurance coverage choice in internet even when he by no means established himself as a real NHL goaltender with profession statistics of a 25-33-8 document, .881 save share and three.60 GAA. The 31-year-old has been a gradual presence within the minors with a 117-106-34 document, .903 save share and a pair of.87 GAA within the AHL, which is probably going why NHL organizations need him as goaltending depth of their system. The incontrovertible fact that an Avalanche draftee is making NHL appearances 13 years later is value spotlighting and all the very best to Martin whether or not or not he’s referred to as upon for the Rangers this season.
