Alec Martinez has had a decorated NHL career. He won three Stanley Cups--two with the Los Angeles Kings and one with the Vegas Golden Knights--and made his living as a shot-blocking defenseman. Not many blue liners make their living off being, well, defensive.
Yet that's what the native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, did. He had a career total of 1,883 blocked shots in 16 seasons. That's an average of 179 blocked shots a season! He might've been an offensive liability (for the most part) throughout his career, scoring 88 goals and 201 assists. But you must tip your cap to how well he served his role.
That's why he'll go down as one of the most solid defenders in Golden Knights history. He announced his retirement during Saturday's game against the Winnipeg Jets, ending his 16-year run. Hockey fans will remember his stint with the Los Angeles Kings, where he scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in 2014. But he was also terrific during his stay in Las Vegas.
What made Martinez unique? What will his legacy consist of as he retires to watch his Detroit Lions (hopefully) win the Super Bowl? The 37-year-old doesn't get talked about enough for his role with the team. However, he was integral in the Golden Knights winning their first Stanley Cup. Here's what made the blue liner special.
Life for Alec Martinez before he played with the Vegas Golden Knights
As mentioned, Alec Martinez was a tenured Los Angeles Kings defenseman. He made his living as a classical defender. The 37-year-old spent 11 seasons with the Kings and was drafted in the fourth round (95th overall) in the 2007 NHL Draft.
He might've been known for his defensive acumen more than his offensive skills. However, he did have the Stanley Cup-clinching goal, as previously mentioned.
Hockey fans have never heard Doc Emrick go that high of an octave in his lifetime. But he captured the essence of a goal that captured the most historic prize in sports. But there was also his Game 7 clincher against the Chicago Blackhawks in 2014. You can say he had a clutch ability when it mattered most.
Then he would join the Vegas Golden Knights and win another Stanley Cup. But he wasn't alone. Jonathan Quick would join him for part of the 2022-23 season, also winning another Stanley Cup with him. There's nothing like a good ol' fashioned Los Angeles Kings reunion, eh? All you need is Drew Doughty.
When Martinez was on the Golden Knights
Martinez spent five seasons with the Golden Knights after his 11 years with the Kings. He came over in a 2020 trade for two second-round picks. It was much of the same during his Vegas stay as it was in Hollywood: Blocking shots and being an old-school defenseman.
The Rochester Hills native had 677 career blocked shots with the Golden Knights, making him an essential blue liner for Vegas. Imagine having to get past him and Alex Pietrangelo when they were in their primes. That's an assignment that not even Connor McDavid would want.
Sadly, his tenure would be defined by one problem: Injuries. Boy, did he get a lot of injuries, too. Taking the brunt of shots blocked can wear you down physically. That's what happened with Martinez as he got older, for he dealt with foot problems and lower-body complications.
Still, Vegas Golden Knights fans will remember the Chicago Blackhawks defenseman as an essential player during his Las Vegas tenure. He was part of why Vegas had a suffocating defensive system, taking away shooting and passing lanes. There's nobody who represented Bruce Cassidy's defensive philosophy more than the 37-year-old did.