Hugely successful as a junior netminder, Spencer Martin hasn’t proven capable of translating that body of work into a successful NHL career. He’s been with four different NHL teams and quite frankly, when given the opportunity to display his wares on the big stage, hasn’t proven capable of consistently delivering the goods.

In the junior ranks, honors just kept coming Martin’s way. He won a bronze medal with Team Ontario at the 2012 World U17 Challenge. Next came another bronze medal with Canada at the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championship. He followed up with a second U18 worlds bronze medal  in 2013. 

Playing for the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, Martin was chosen to the 2011-12 OHL All-Rookie Team. In 2013, he was picked to play in the CHL Top Prospects Game. Suiting up for Team Orr, he helped the select squad blank Team Cherry 3-0 in the game. 

The Colorado Avalanche would select Martin 63rd overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft. He was the fifth netminder chosen in that draft. 

While playing for the San Antonio Rampage, Colorado’s top farm club, Martin was selected to play in the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic. However, a recall to the Avalanche to make his NHL debut cost Martin the chance to play in that game.

Martin made his NHL debut on January 21, 2017 in a 3-2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks. In 2019, Martin wasn’t tendered a contract by the Avalanche and instead signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning. 

He’d never see any NHL action with Tampa Bay and two years later, was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for future considerations. In Vancouver, Martin would get his first chance at regular NHL work.

He started the 2021-22 AHL season in Abbotsford going 5-0-2 with a 2.24 GAA, .921 save percentage and one shutout. When both Jaroslav Halak and Thatcher Demko came down with COVID-19, Martin was summoned to Vancouver. Making his first NHL start in five years on Jan. 21, 2022. He’d stop 33 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to Florida, earning recognition as the game’s first star.

Martin went 3-0-3 in six starts, including his first NHL victory, a 5-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Jan 27. He’d post a 1.74 GAA and .950 save percentage during this brief stint, encouraging the Canucks to go with him as their backup goalie in 2022-23.

When Demko suffered a groin injury in December, the net was turned over to Martin and it was an unmitigated disaster. He’d post an .871 save percentage over 27 starts, at one stretch losing 10 games in a row. He was eventually demoted to AHL Abbotsford.

Claimed on waivers the following season by the Columbus Blue Jackets, things didn’t go much better for Martin. He was 3-8-1 in 13 appearances with a 3.65 GAA and .887 save percentage. 

Strapped for goaltending depth due to injury, the Carolina Hurricanes would claim Martin on waivers on Jan. 19, 2024. Appearing in six games for the Canes, he was 4-1-1 with a 2.63 GAA, but just an .896 save percentage.