This piece will be another in my series of player profiles, where I’ll give some thoughts on the performance of a member of the Carolina Hurricanes this season. This article will focus on Jordan Martinook.

This was a fine year from Martinook, despite missing time due to injury. His production was pretty much on par with his career averages, scoring 13 points in 45 games, though he did manage just two goals all year and had a rough 2020, scoring only four points in 20 games. He did have a reduced role this season, however, averaging just 11:16 per game, which is almost two minutes less than every other regular forward on the team. It was a pretty significant step down from last year, where he averaged 14:29 per game.

It’s a positive that he’s able to play center, where he spent some time throughout the year, though I think ideally he should be kept on the wing. Martinook’s role next year may depend on whether Justin Williams returns to the Hurricanes once more or if another forward is added. After the Hurricanes moved Julien Gauthier, Janne Kuokkanen and Eetu Luostarinen at the trade deadline, then also brought up Morgan Geekie, there aren’t any NHL-ready prospects in the system that could replace Martinook.

It was a down year for Martinook and I think it became clear by the end of the year that he’s not an essential player to keep around. He could certainly be a solid member of the fourth line again next year, though if Geekie sticks with the Hurricanes and Williams returns or there’s an opportunity to make an upgrade, Martinook may become expendable.


Check back tomorrow for a player profile on Brock McGinn.


For more, follow @BenShelley_20 on Twitter.


OTHER HURRICANES ARTICLES FROM MARCH

Reviewing the season (so far): Dougie Hamilton

Reviewing the season (so far): Jake Gardiner

Reviewing the season (so far): Warren Foegele

Hurricanes sign David and Jason Cotton

Reviewing the season (so far): Haydn Fleury

Reviewing the season (so far): Joel Edmundson

Reviewing the season (so far): Ryan Dzingel

Reviewing the season (so far): Sebastian Aho

The good and the bad of the Hurricanes’ season (so far)

Mrazek (likely) returning, Geekie makes case to stay with Hurricanes

The Forsberg/Nedeljkovic tandem is off to a rough start

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