Norway is known for producing more than its share of elite skaters, but most of them do not carry sticks or chase pucks.
Martinsen is an exception. On Nov. 10, 2015, the Colorado Avalanche forward became the eighth Norwegian to play in the NHL, though he was the third player from that country to skate with Colorado.
Norway is known for producing more than its share of elite skaters, but most of them do not carry sticks or chase pucks.
Martinsen is an exception. On Nov. 10, 2015, the Colorado Avalanche forward became the eighth Norwegian to play in the NHL, though he was the third player from that country to skate with Colorado.
An undrafted free agent signed in May of 2015, Martinsen has a lunch-pail style. He does grunt work down low and along the boards and has a well-rounded defensive game. The hard-charging wing's 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame helps him play a physical game with abandon.
An assist in a 6-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 14, 2015 gave Martinsen his first NHL point in his third game. One week later, Martinsen became the fifth player from Norway to score a goal in the NHL when he put a puck past goalie Braden Holtby in a 7-3 loss to the Washington Capitals.
Martinsen's second goal delivered a more memorable result as his wild backhand swat redirected a flying puck past Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne for a third-period goal that stood up as the game-winner in a 3-2 win on Dec. 12, 2015.
Martinsen showed the Avalanche enough that they re-signed him to a one-year contract when he became a restricted free agent following his rookie season. The contract validated his long path through European leagues to get to the NHL.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- Signed as a free agent by Colorado, May 15, 2015.
- Traded to Montreal by Colorado for Sven Andrighetto, March 1, 2017.
- Traded to Chicago by Montreal for Kyle Baun, October 4, 2017.
- Signed as a free agent by Anaheim, July 5, 2019.
