If there is one player on the 2016/17 Maple Leafs team that has been given the short end of the stick this off-season it’s the Buds toughest and most feared player Matt Martin.

Martin is a warrior on the ice, sure he doesn’t have the skillset of Mitch Marner but he’s got the intensity and force of a rambunctious rhino preparing to buck one of their foes. He’s the type of player that teammates love to have on their team, especially when things get a little chippy on the ice.

Matt isn’t your everyday bruiser, he’s actually quite quick on his feet for your typical fourth liner and that’s exactly why he has been able to lay a number of hits each and every season. He’s smart about it too and can really turn the intensity up for the young Leafs as they see the 220 pound frame of Martin gobble up a few defensemen as he fore-checks with authority. He’s not one of those guys who fights just for the hell of it, there is purpose when the 28 year old Windsor native drops the mitts and his opponent.

If you don’t think management knew what they were getting when they signed Martin to a multi-year deal then you should second question your thoughts. They knew Matt was going to have a major role on and off the ice for the Leafs, he’s a good guy and liked by all the Leafs, especially Mitch Marner who seems to get along great with the Leafs tough guy. It’s like a David and Goliath type thing I guess, I wouldn’t want to be the person who took a run at Mitch with Matt Martin being the one who is going to return the favour.

There was no way the Leafs were going to expose Martin, let’s be serious here…they brought Martin in to do his job, which he has done and well. The Leafs rookies were protected very well all season; Martin missed 0 games all season and even chipped in two assists in six playoff games. That fourth line if you recall was extremely effective against the Washington Capitals, Martin was a very noticeable player in that series.

It would have been a real slap to the face of Martin if the Leafs did expose him; the guy is easily one of the best fourth line wingers in the league and brings it every game. Lamoriello and Shanahan know better than that, this isn’t a Leafs management group of the past. Matt will continue to improve and bring all that he can to the table for the Maple Leafs, he’s fit in quite well with the young core and will certainly be of use for the Leafs this season as many of the rookies will be played harder this season as they enter their sophomore season and you can bet Martin will be setting the tone out there with his thunderous hitting ability and fearless gritty play.

The Leafs will have Matt Martin under contract until the end of the 2019/20 season and he is paid 2.5 million. His prime years are still ahead as Martin is 28 years old and has a lot of ferociousness left in the tank. Don’t look at the numbers; look at the role, the execution and the overall picture that the Maple Leafs forward brings each and every game.

Thanks for reading, happy hump day!

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