Alec Martinez

Last updated

Alec Martinez
Alec Martinez - Los Angeles Kings.jpg
Martinez with the Los Angeles Kings in December 2013
Born (1987-07-26) July 26, 1987 (age 36)
Rochester Hills, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Chicago Blackhawks
Los Angeles Kings
TPS
Vegas Golden Knights
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 95th overall, 2007
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2008present

Alec Martinez (born July 26, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, having won with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014 and with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. In 2014, he scored both the Western Conference Finals-winning goal and Stanley Cup Finals-winning goal, both in overtime.

Contents

Early life

Martinez was born in the Detroit suburb of Rochester Hills, Michigan. [1] His paternal grandfather is Spanish and his paternal grandmother is Canadian. He grew up in Michigan before moving to Fremont, California where he played junior hockey for the Santa Clara Blackhawks and San Jose Jr. Sharks. [2] He earned four varsity letters at Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Hills. [3]

He played college hockey while attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Playing career

Los Angeles Kings

Martinez was drafted 95th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft while playing for Miami University. He made his professional debut for the Kings' American Hockey League (AHL) minor league affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, in 2008. A year later, he was announced to the opening roster for the 2009–10 season with Kings, in which he played four games and had no goals and no assists on six shots on goal.

He was sent back down to the Manchester Monarchs for the first 20 games of the 2010–11 season. On November 23, 2010, he was recalled by the Los Angeles Kings to replace the struggling Jake Muzzin. On November 24, Martinez scored his first NHL goal, on the power play, in 4–1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre against goaltender Carey Price. [4] Martinez had his first multi-point game December 4, 2010, including a goal against Chris Osgood of the Detroit Red Wings in a 3–2 victory for the Kings. [5] After joining the squad for the 2010–11 season, Martinez earned trust from former Kings Head Coach Terry Murray for solid offensive and defensive play, [6] and that continued after Darryl Sutter replaced Murray in December 2011.

On July 8, 2011, Martinez signed a two-year, $1,475,000 contract with the Kings. On June 11, 2012, the team won the Stanley Cup.

With the 2012–13 NHL season being threatened by a lockout that ultimately wiped out half the season, on December 31, 2012, Martinez signed with the Allen Americans of the Central Hockey League. [7] He played with them until the end of the lockout.

Martinez was injured for 10 of the Kings' first 15 games of the 2013–14 season, but wound up returning as a regular on the Kings' defense, even contributing to the team's offense.

He scored two series winners en route to the Kings' second Stanley Cup title – on June 1, 2014, Martinez scored 5:47 into overtime of Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks on goaltender Corey Crawford; 12 days later, in Game 5 of the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals against the New York Rangers, a shot by Tyler Toffoli, which rebounded off goaltender Henrik Lundqvist in double overtime, led to another Martinez goal. The goal was scored with 5:17 left in double overtime as he became the 17th player to score the Cup-winning goal in overtime. [8] He became the first to do it since Patrick Kane in 2010 and the first to do it at home since Bob Nystrom in 1980.

On December 4, 2014, Martinez signed a 6 year $24 million extension with the Kings.

Playing a full 82 games for the only time in his NHL career (and one of only four defensemen on the team’s roster), Martinez recorded a career high 39 points in the 2016–17 season, his best season post-Stanley Cup Finals.

Vegas Golden Knights

On February 19, 2020, Martinez was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2020 and St. Louis' second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. [9] Martinez had a successful debut with the Golden Knights, scoring a goal and an assist in a 5–3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On July 28, 2021, Martinez signed a three-year, $15.75 million contract with the Golden Knights.

On November 11, 2021, Martinez was cut in the face by Brandon Duhaime's skate in a match against the Minnesota Wild. He would be placed on long term injured reserve as a result. He was activated off the IR on March 26, 2022.

During the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers, Martinez scored two goals, after going scoreless most of the playoffs, to secure his third Stanley Cup championship. After hoisting the Cup himself, he handed it to former Kings teammate Jonathan Quick, who had joined the Golden Knights earlier in the year. Reflecting on his third victory, Martinez said "this one is a little different being on the other side of the age spectrum." [10]

Chicago Blackhawks

On July 1st, 2024, Martinez signed a 1-year, $4 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. [11]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Ice hockey
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2018 Denmark

Martinez represented the United States at the 2018 IIHF World Championship where he recorded one goal and two assists in ten games and won a bronze medal. [12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2003–04Honeybaked U18 AAA MWEHL 597142128
2004–05 Cedar Rapids RoughRiders USHL 5810112130111238
2005–06 Miami RedHawks CCHA 39381131
2006–07 Miami RedHawksCCHA429152440
2007–08 Miami RedHawksCCHA429233242
2008–09 Manchester Monarchs AHL 728152342
2009–10 Los Angeles Kings NHL 40002
2009–10 Manchester MonarchsAHL5572330261603310
2010–11 Manchester MonarchsAHL205111614
2010–11 Los Angeles KingsNHL60511161860112
2011–12 Los Angeles KingsNHL5166128201238
2012–13 TPS SM-l 111128
2012–13 Allen Americans CHL 31120
2012–13 Los Angeles KingsNHL271451070228
2013–14 Los Angeles KingsNHL611111221426551012
2014–15 Los Angeles KingsNHL566162210
2015–16 Los Angeles KingsNHL781021314010000
2016–17 Los Angeles KingsNHL829303924
2017–18 Los Angeles KingsNHL77916253440000
2018–19 Los Angeles KingsNHL60414188
2019–20 Los Angeles KingsNHL4117817
2019–20 Vegas Golden Knights NHL102686202684
2020–21 Vegas Golden KnightsNHL539233212194269
2021–22 Vegas Golden KnightsNHL263584
2022–23 Vegas Golden KnightsNHL773111429222574
2023–24 Vegas Golden KnightsNHL5541317660000
NHL totals8188319427724213114233747

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2018 United States WC Bronze medal icon.svg101234
2019 United StatesWC7th80440
Senior totals181674

Awards and honors

AwardYear
College
All-CCHA First Team 2007–08
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 2007–08
CCHA All-Tournament Team 2008 [13]
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2012, 2014, 2023 [14]

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References

  1. "Alec Martinez player biography". National Hockey League. June 7, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  2. "Alec Martinez: Transplant finds hockey home".
  3. "Una conversación con Sr. Martinez". May 5, 2013.
  4. "Canadiens 4, Kings 1". CBS Sports . November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  5. "Kings 3, Red Wings 2 OT". Los Angeles Kings. December 4, 2010. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  6. Hammond, Rich (January 11, 2011). "Rookie defenseman Martinez earns trust". LAKings insider. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  7. "Americans Sign Stanley Cup Winning Defenseman". Allen Americans. December 31, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  8. Kings' Martinez again plays hero, scores Cup-winner
  9. "LA Kings Acquire Two Second-Round Picks, Trade Alec Martinez to Vegas". February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  10. Rosen, Dan (June 14, 2023). "Martinez, Quick share unusual path to Stanley Cup with Golden Knights". NHL.com. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  11. "Blackhawks Sign Veteran Alec Martinez to One-Year Deal". Chicago Blackhawks. July 1, 2024.
  12. Vickers, Aaron (May 21, 2018). "Alec Martinez Makes First Team USA Appearance at IIHF World Championship". NHL.com. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  13. "2012–13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  14. Brewer, Contessa (June 14, 2023). "Golden Knights' Stanley Cup win cements Las Vegas as a big-time sports city". CNBC. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by CCHA Best Defensive Defenseman
2007–08
Succeeded by
Kyle Lawson