Islanders' Martin picks suit for NHL Awards

NEW YORK -- Matt Martin, well-suited for his role on the fourth line with the New York Islanders, on Thursday traded in his uniform and skates for a suit and dress shoes.
Martin was at John Varvatos in Manhattan to pick out his suit for the 2016 NHL Awards, which will be at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on June 22. Martin is nominated for the NHL Foundation Player Award for his charitable work, so he took his time choosing what he'll wear.

"I got a lot of help from the stylist here," Martin said. "They had a few things laid out for me -- four whole suit-and-tie combinations, which I kind of went off of that since obviously they know what they are doing."
Martin, who will not unveil the suit he chose until the NHL Awards, said he shops at John Varvatos, so he had an idea of what he wanted for the big night.

"We were able to find a very nice combination, and I am looking forward to wearing it," he said.
In September 2015, Martin created the Matt Martin Foundation, which has raised more than $75,000 for various causes that are close to him. He also raises money for children and military members and helps the NYPD Widows' and Children's Fund, the Boomer Esiason Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis, the Association for Children with Down Syndrome school in Plainview, N.Y., Defending the Blue Line, and the Islanders Children's Foundation.
"We started the foundation last year, and I am a little surprised we are where we are," Martin said. "It's a pretty big honor to be nominated for this award. It's going to be a fun time. I want to enjoy it, but at the same time, the hockey community and the guys in this league do a great job. There's seven or eight guys on our team alone that do a lot of charity work and have their own things for the season, and you hear stories around the League for what guys do, it's pretty special. I think it's a great thing that the hockey community gives back the way they do."

Martin, who is up for an NHL award for the first time in his career, won't be alone. Islanders captain John Tavares, who was nominated for the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award, also will be there, as will Martin's linemate Casey Cizikas.
"It will be nice to have [Tavares] there," Martin said. "Casey and his fiancee and [my girlfriend] are actually going to come with us. They'll be sitting right next to us. "
The NHL Foundation Player Award is given to "an NHL player who applies the core values of hockey -- commitment, perseverance and teamwork -- to enrich the lives of people in his community." Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban and Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano are the other finalists. The winner will receive $25,000 for his charity.