About Last Season: Jordan Martinook Performance Review and Grade

Jordan Martinook 2019-20 By The Numbers

• Age: 27
• NHL Seasons: 5
• Games Played: 45
• Scoring: 2 goals, 11 assists, 13 points
• Average Ice Time: 9:58 ES, 0:01 PP, 1:17 SH
• Contract: Completed year one of a two-year deal with a $2M AAV

Jordan Martinook is never going to be a massive points producer. The Carolina Hurricanes knew that from the day they traded for him. Martinook is a quality fourth-line guy when it comes to his on-ice play. But where Martinook, or better known as Marty Man, shines is off the ice.

The 2019-20 season started rough for Martinook. After struggling to get through the 2019 playoffs due to an injury, Martinook entered camp ready to go. That all changed after just four games, as he was forced to undergo surgery to repair a core muscle injury on October 11, which sidelined him for over a month.

Upon his return, Martinook never really looked quite right. His play just wasn’t as sharp as it was during the 2018-19 season when he set a career high in goals at 15. The 19-20 season would see Martinook score just twice which both occurred in a stretch of just 11 days from late November to early December. Martinook would fail to score in his final 29 games of the year while registering just 13 points overall.

Certainly his offensive woes were disappointing considering he had put up 15 goals the year before, but most know Martinook isn’t the guy you rely on to score. He is a 20-25 point guy when healthy who is able to kill penalties and help out down the lineup. He is a quality player who fits in to a certain role who has one niche that sets him apart from other depth forwards which is his personality and leadership.

When the Hurricanes aquired Martinook back in 2018 they were told he was a glue guy. But what is a glue guy? A glue guy is someone who holds the locker room together, keeps things in line on the ice, and always makes himself available to both the team and the fans. Martinook not only does well at being a glue guy, he may be a league-wide example setter.

From cracking jokes (typically pointed at Andrei Svechnikov), to his famous pre-game screams, to being the face to local sponsorships, and even becoming the team’s NHLPA rep, Martinook is the clear leader for the Canes off the ice.

All of these things are why Rod Brind’Amour put an A on Martinook’s sweater this season to put him in a leadership role. With Justin Williams taking a break and Jordan Staal, who has always been known to be a little quieter than Williams, taking over as captain, Brind’ Amour needed a voice on and off the ice. Enter Marty Man. Martinook excels at being a face and voice for the Hurricanes all while being the class-clown that people enjoy watching. I mean, who doesn’t get pumped hearing this:

Jordan Martinook is never going to be the most talented player on the ice, but he doesn’t have to be. He just has to be himself. Everything that he lacks on the ice he brings a thousand times more to off it. That’s why the Hurricanes love him, that’s why the fans love him, and that’s why he’s a vital member of the Carolina Hurricanes.