Islanders reportedly agree to four-year deal with Matt Martin

The New York Islanders have reportedly agreed to a four-year deal with forward Matt Martin and it carries a $1.5 million annual value.

According to reports by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and The Athletic’s Arthur Staple the New York Islanders have agreed to a four-year deal with UFA Matt Martin.

The reports also indicate that the deal also carries a $1.5 million AAV. That’s a $1 million drop from the last deal he signed the last time he was a UFA on the market. Then Toronto Maple Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello signed Martin to a four year $10 million deal ($2.5 million AAV).

This deal will certainly keep Matt Martin on the Island for the remainder of his NHL career.

Long-Term

Martin, who turned 31 in May, will be 35 by the time this reported deal comes to a close. A physical player who isn’t shy to drop the gloves if the situation requires it, Matt Martin isn’t a candidate to have Jaromir Jagr-esque longevity in the NHL.

The deal comes as a surprise specifically for the team and value. We knew that Matt Martin had been re-signed by the Islanders but most of us thought that his contract would be for a single year and carry an AAV of $1 million, at most.

With the Islanders right up against the salary cap, giving Matt Martin that kind of money seems a bit odd. But then again, the Isles need to chew up some cap space in order to maximize the amount of Johnny Boychuk‘s $6 million LTIR salary they can use.

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So perhaps this explains why the Islanders made the deal. It’s clear the Islanders like Matt Martin and he likes being here. Keeping him makes sense in a way. The Isles draw their identity from the fourth line of Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck. When that trio isn’t there the team isn’t the same team.