When Team USA went to Sochi in 2014, defender Paul Martin was one of the most debated about players on the team. Martin isn’t a sexy name, and many under-appreciate his efforts, but the facts are he is a good NHL defender. While Martin certainly isn’t elite, he’s a good, veteran defender in the NHL.
This summer, Martin will get to test the free agent market as his contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins expires. Would Martin, an established top-four guy, be of interest to the Oilers? Would he be interested in joining Edmonton’s recent adds both on and off the ice?
Why Is He Out There:
He’s the best all-around defender the Penguins have, but he’s slated to hit the market on July 1st, and there hasn’t been a word on him re-signing with the club. The Penguins have a number of big contracts, and seem to be going young on the back-end. That could mean Martin, who is 34, could be on the way out.
Pittsburgh wisely probably doesn’t want to give Martin his final big time pay day, and as a result probably goes shopping for a younger option this July. At this point, it’s fair to assume the Pens go with Derrick Pouliot, Olli Maata and Kris Letang as their top-three defenders.
What Does He Do Well:
Paul Martin is an underrated defender in all honesty. He’s not great in one single area, but he is good in just about every facet of the game. He’s got decent size, standing in at 6’1” and 200 pounds, but he doesn’t play an overly physical style. He’s more about using his position to get the upper-hand and create things.
Martin is a mobile defender, with good speed and the ability to keep up with the forwards. He can log high minute totals too, evident by his 22:47 per game average this past season. That’s a 34 year defender logging 22+ minutes and doing it effectively, that’s really impressive.
He’s decent enough offensively to survive, but he’s not a big point producer from the blue-line. Martin had only 20 points this season for the Penguins, and was a non-factor on the power-play. That said, he’s decent at moving the puck out of the zone with his first pass, and he can make and take a pass. That’s important, folks.
The Hockey News writes that Martin is at his best when in a strong defensive system, which might be a fit for the style Todd McLellan plans to implement. McLellan always found a use for solid, veteran, shut-down defenders in San Jose. That’s exactly what Martin is.
When Paul Martin plays a simple game, which he does often, he is a player who has an impact on the game. Martin is a smart hockey player who knows how to break up a cycle in the defensive zone and who knows how to play a sound shut-down game. He’s not the sexy name, but he’s a good hockey player.
Where Will He Play / Where Should He Play:
Paul Martin would be Edmonton’s best defender in my mind, meaning he fills in the number one spot on the depth chart. That’s probably a little high for this player, who in my mind is a solid number two/three defender at the NHL level. He can play on your first pairing, but he certainly won’t carry it.
Ideally, he’s your number three defender, but that won’t be the case here. If he is Edmonton’s big get this summer, he’s likely playing ahead of where he belongs in the line-up. If he is Edmonton’s secondary get, well then let’s rock and roll.
What Will He Cost:
Only money and a contract spot, which is nice for Edmonton. If the Oilers so choose, they could add Martin and still trade for another strong option on the blue-line, or even in net. It creates options.
As for the actual contract Martin would want? At his age, I can’t see a team giving him more than two seasons, and I think $4 million a year fits in perfectly with his ability, age and style. Personally, I think it is a fair value contract and would be okay with giving it to him.
Closing Arguments:
I’ll be honest, I don’t think Paul Martin fixes the defense on his own, heck no one does. I’m not sold on him as a top-pairing option at all, but I am sold on him as a legit top-four guy at this level. He’s a solid veteran who plays a strong defensive game. Those guys have exceptional value, and Edmonton lacks them.
Martin represents an upgrade on the current options in Edmonton, and would be part of the solution. If Peter Chiarelli can get him to sign on with a short-term, fair value deal, then I’m all for it. He’s a solid option who could help teach the young guys a thing or two, and help the team win games.
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