Spencer Martin (ice hockey)

Lore & Background

Martin played midget hockey with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens before being selected 18th overall in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection by the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors. He made his OHL debut in the 2011–12 season, appearing in 15 games. With the renamed Mississauga Steelheads in 2012–13, he was invited to the CHL Top Prospects Game, where he led Team Orr to a rare shutout win. He was rated as a top prospect leading up to the 2013 NHL entry draft and was the fifth goaltender selected. In 2013–14, he appeared in a league-high 64 games and 3562 minutes, posting 24 wins. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Avalanche on October 5, 2014. During the 2016–17 season, Martin was selected for the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic, the first and only Rampage goaltender to ever be selected, but was unable to participate due to recalls by the Avalanche. He made his NHL debut on January 21, 2017, in a 3–2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks. After his entry-level contract ended, he was not tendered a qualifying offer on June 25, 2019, and subsequently signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 1, 2019. He was called up to the Lightning for their training camp prior to the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs and signed a one-year, two-way extension on May 3, 2021. On July 31, 2021, Martin was traded by the Lightning to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for future considerations. He played 7 games for the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks to begin the 2021–22 campaign, posting a 5–0–2 record with a 2.24 GAA, .921 save percentage and 1 shutout, before being called up on January 15 after backup netminder Jaroslav Halák was placed on COVID-19 protocol. Starter Thatcher Demko subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 on January 20. Martin played his first NHL game in nearly five years on January 21, turning aside 33 shots in a 2–1 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers and being named the game's first star. He followed with a 47-save effort in a 3–2 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on January 25, then earned his first NHL win on January 27, stopping 33 shots in a 5–1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. He was reassigned to Abbotsford on January 30 as Demko and Halák returned.

Reader's Guide

Spencer Martin's NHL career is marked by sporadic opportunities and brief but notable performances. After being drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2013, he spent several seasons in the AHL before making his NHL debut in 2017. His most significant stretch came with the Vancouver Canucks during the 2021–22 season, when he was called up amid COVID-19 protocols and delivered three strong starts, including a 47-save effort and his first NHL win. Despite these flashes, he was unable to secure a consistent NHL role, bouncing between the Canucks, Blue Jackets, and Hurricanes. With Carolina, he recorded his first career shutout on November 16, 2024, against the Ottawa Senators, but was reassigned to the AHL after nine appearances. He later signed with HC CSKA Moscow of the KHL in 2025 but was waived after four months, then returned to North America with the New York Rangers organization. Martin's career illustrates the challenges faced by goaltenders in earning and maintaining an NHL roster spot, with his most notable contributions coming in short-term relief roles.

Did You Know?

• He led Team Orr to a rare shutout win at the 2013 CHL Top Prospects Game.
• Martin was the first and only Rampage goaltender ever selected for the AHL All-Star Classic (2017).
• He recorded his first NHL shutout on November 16, 2024, as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes.