Jason Lewis: Player Evaluation: Alec "Jazz Hands" Martinez

As was stated, it might be hard to keep AMart around after next season, although I would like to retain his services and keep him on the roster. I was never quite sure why he was doghouse bound to begin with...bad decisions on D coverages or with the puck? I just didn't realize them that often if this was the case, certainly nothing glaring ala Jack Johnson stuff.
No matter what Amart's future holds he'll always be remembered for potting that game/series winner in both the WCF and the SCF, the Jazz Hands celebration will give me chills for the rest of my life! Everytime I see it I can't help but smile and say to myself "someone jump on him already!" LOL It was very remniscent of when Kopitar scored the OT game 1 winner vs NJ and he did that little school girl jump about 5 times before someone was there to celebrate with him!!!
Play your game Alec and good things will come for you, regardless what sweater you wear in the future.

great to relive that moment........I have it on my recordings and I still play it every now and then. He is one of the heroes in this cup year. Will he play at that level every post season? That is a question nobody can answer but after this past year he will command a raise. He is part of the Kings family and I hope he stays but I wont worry. (In Dean I trust)......either way He will start the season as a Champion and after his part in bringing the cup back home, He should enjoy the whole season as a defending stanley cup champ......even if he gets traded before the season is over.

great to relive that moment........I have it on my recordings and I still play it every now and then. He is one of the heroes in this cup year. Will he play at that level every post season? That is a question nobody can answer but after this past year he will command a raise. He is part of the Kings family and I hope he stays but I wont worry. (In Dean I trust)......either way He will start the season as a Champion and after his part in bringing the cup back home, He should enjoy the whole season as a defending stanley cup champ......even if he gets traded before the season is over.
- dprice818

What do you guys think he would fetch in a trade?

What do you guys think he would fetch in a trade?
- BlazinMike

IMO, possibly a mid level prospect OR I would say a 2nd/3rd pick.

IMO, possibly a mid level prospect OR I would say a 2nd/3rd pick.
- RobitailleFAN20

Seems fair, (more towards the 3rd round pick imo) i dont see him much besides the playoffs.

He played forward for a little stretch too didnt he?

Seems fair, (more towards the 3rd round pick imo) i dont see him much besides the playoffs.

He played forward for a little stretch too didnt he?
- BlazinMike

Lol, like 1gms, because the kings seem to go in sleep mode in January with their scoring abilities... He is in no way a forward though. Kings were desperate for scoring when they "tried" him at F

Seems fair, (more towards the 3rd round pick imo) i dont see him much besides the playoffs.

He played forward for a little stretch too didnt he?
- BlazinMike

I think a 2nd is fair for a team that needs decent D help now. It would be disappointing if he was let go for a third.....

Lol, like 2gms because the kings seem to go in sleep mode in January with their scoring abilities... He is in no way a forward though. Kings were desperate for scoring when they "tried" him at F
- RobitailleFAN20

Was there ACTUALLY a thought that he might be more than serviceable as a forward? Or was it just cause there was injuries or something and they just needed a body on the 3rd or 4th line?

I think a 2nd is fair for a team that needs decent D help now. It would be disappointing if he was let go for a third.....
- dprice818

Ill take your word for it, like i said i dont see much besides the post season as far as him playing.

IMO, possibly a mid level prospect OR I would say a 2nd/3rd pick.
- RobitailleFAN20

You don't think he'd be a puck moving 3/4 on most other teams that need D help? He seems to get his shot through more often then Drew, as well as being pretty good at keeping pucks in at the blue line (not a better Dman, just in this aspects).
He skates well, moves the puck well, is fairly reliable in his own zone... IMO he's a 5-7 on the Kings because we have a pretty set 1-4 (considering how the staf like to pair a mover with a stay at home)... I see him getting a nice hefty raise in his next contract with another team. I hope we get something nice back for him, a prospect moreso than a 3rd rd pick.

Was there ACTUALLY a thought that he might be more than serviceable as a forward? Or was it just cause there was injuries or something and they just needed a body on the 3rd or 4th line?
- BlazinMike

IIRC the Kings were carrying 7 Dmen, so he played some F in those games... but I might be mis-remembering.

Ill take your word for it, like i said i dont see much besides the post season as far as him playing.
- BlazinMike

If nothing happens near the end of the season I wouldn't be too surprised to see a 3rd but an extension or an earlier trade is more likely, as doing nothing till seasons end helps nobody.

You don't think he'd be a puck moving 3/4 on most other teams that need D help? He seems to get his shot through more often then Drew, as well as being pretty good at keeping pucks in at the blue line (not a better Dman, just in this aspects).
He skates well, moves the puck well, is fairly reliable in his own zone... IMO he's a 5-7 on the Kings because we have a pretty set 1-4 (considering how the staf like to pair a mover with a stay at home)... I see him getting a nice hefty raise in his next contract with another team. I hope we get something nice back for him, a prospect moreso than a 3rd rd pick.
- Stu17

I can possibly see him as a 4 dman

Seems fair, (more towards the 3rd round pick imo) i dont see him much besides the playoffs.

He played forward for a little stretch too didnt he?
- BlazinMike

He did not. The kings had a stretch where they dressed 7 defenseman.

If you dress 7 Dmen that doesn't mean they play forward. The kings essentially rotated center men on the 4th line and rotated a dman on the bottom pairing. Martinez never played forward

and Bob's your uncle... AMart never played forward.

I can't give him anything other than an 'A'. Remember when Martinez was always one of the first players mentioned in trade rumors at the beginning of the season?
I do, glad it never happened. He's solid, great player.

He did not. The kings had a stretch where they dressed 7 defenseman.

If you dress 7 Dmen that doesn't mean they play forward. The kings essentially rotated center men on the 4th line and rotated a dman on the bottom pairing. Martinez never played forward
- Jason_Lewis

Ok, i thought i remembered hearing a story about him being tried at forward bascially just because. Didnt know the reason though.

thanks for the info

Ok, i thought i remembered hearing a story about him being tried at forward bascially just because. Didnt know the reason though.

thanks for the info
- BlazinMike

Ya know, I vaguely remember something about a King defenseman playing forward for a few games in recent memory but can't quite put my finger on who it was. If it was Martinez it was maybe 3 seasons ago. Definitely wasn't this year or last year with the lockout shortened one.

Ya know, I vaguely remember something about a King defenseman playing forward for a few games in recent memory but can't quite put my finger on who it was. If it was Martinez it was maybe 3 seasons ago. Definitely wasn't this year or last year with the lockout shortened one.
- Jason_Lewis

Peter Harold maybe?

Peter Harold maybe?
- Stu17

Harold did play forward, and quite a bit too, but that was many years ago.

I can't remember Martinez ever playing up front.

I think Amart is a terrific player. His strength is underrated, he ties people up well, and has tremendous speed along with good offensive instinct for a 3rd pairing dman.

Didn't Drewiske play forward in a pinch before? I remember rumors about moving Jack Johnson to rumors too, but I don't remember, maybe I just dreamed it.

Didn't Drewiske play forward in a pinch before? I remember rumors about moving Jack Johnson to rumors too, but I don't remember, maybe I just dreamed it.
- bluecoconuts

Correct indeed gentlemen. Both Harrold and Drewiske played forward at points during their careers with the kings.

he's no more than a #5 Or #6, he benefits greatly playing in the Kings system at nearly 27 years of age his upside is limited, I wouldnt expect Dean to resign him Since we have defenseman better than him with higher upside in the pipeline, its foolish to let one timely goal have you overpaying for a 3rd pairing at best defender. Dean knows that cup worthy teams do not overpay for average talent based on sentiment

he's no more than a #5 Or #6, he benefits greatly playing in the Kings system at nearly 27 years of age his upside is limited, I wouldnt expect Dean to resign him Since we have defenseman better than him with higher upside in the pipeline, its foolish to let one timely goal have you overpaying for a 3rd pairing at best defender. Dean knows that cup worthy teams do not overpay for average talent based on sentiment
- joeyp

Because of his speed and scoring abilities it wouldn't shock me to see him on another teams first pair. He is going to command some dough this season ..........and don't forget that he was the hero in the Chicago series game 7 as well