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15-Year NHL Veteran and Islanders Winger Suddenly Announces Retirement

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 4:28 PM ET

Matt Martin was a stalwart for the New York Islanders over a long period of time, but now, he's been given a new role in the organization after officially retiring.

The New York Islanders have undergone some major changes this off-season, and with the rumours floating around about star defenseman Noah Dobson ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft and free agency, there could be more on the way.

The biggest change of all thus far has been the hiring of Mathieu Darche as the General Manager following the departure of long-time GM Lou Lamoriello, and now, Darche has made a big move.

On Tuesday, the organization officially announced on social media that not only was long-time forward Matt Martin retiring from the organization, but that he would also be taking up a role as special assistant to the General Manager.

Outside of playing two seasons for Toronto in the middle of his career, Martin spent the remainder of his 15-years in the league with the New York Islanders, in that time playing in 987 games, tallying 178 points in that span.

Now, the 36-year old will look to kick-start his career beyond the ice, and while the belief was that he could thrive as a coach if he wanted, all signs have long pointed to him having a role in the front office, with Darche making that hiring immediately after Martin's retirement.

Ultimately, only time will now tell whether or not Martin is fit for the role, but given his experience in the NHL, he knows the ins and outs of the business, and with some experienced names in the front office, he's got plenty of people to learn from as he looks to begin his career after the league.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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