Martin Gélinas

Lore & Background

Gélinas was drafted seventh overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 but never played for them; he was sent to the Edmonton Oilers as part of the Wayne Gretzky trade. He made his NHL debut with Edmonton in 1988 and won the Stanley Cup with the Oilers in 1990 as a 19-year-old member of the 'Kid Line'. After stints with Quebec, Vancouver, and Carolina, he signed with the Calgary Flames in 2002. In the 2004 playoffs, Gélinas scored overtime series-winning goals against Vancouver and Detroit, then added a series-clinching goal against San Jose, becoming the second player in NHL history to score three series-clinching goals in one playoff year. His performance earned him the nickname 'The Eliminator'. The Flames reached the 2004 Stanley Cup Final but lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning; a controversial play in Game 6 saw a potential go-ahead goal by Gélinas not counted after video review was not requested.

Reader's Guide

Martin Gélinas's significance lies in his unique playoff legacy and his role in the Calgary Flames' 2004 run. He is one of the few players to reach the Stanley Cup Final with four different teams, winning once with Edmonton in 1990. His 2004 postseason performance—scoring three series-winning goals, two in overtime—cemented his reputation as a clutch performer and gave him the lasting nickname 'The Eliminator'. The disputed non-goal in Game 6 of the 2004 Final remains a notable moment in Flames history. After his playing career, Gélinas returned to Calgary as an assistant coach in 2012, continuing his connection to the franchise. His career also includes a four-goal game with Vancouver and being part of the historic Gretzky trade.

Did You Know?

• Gélinas was part of the 1988 Wayne Gretzky trade, going from the Los Angeles Kings to the Edmonton Oilers.
• He scored three series-winning goals in the 2004 playoffs, earning the nickname 'The Eliminator'.
• Gélinas appeared in the Stanley Cup Final with four different teams: Edmonton, Vancouver, Carolina, and Calgary.
• He won the George Parsons Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player at the 1988 Memorial Cup.