17 Matt Martin LW

Martin is fifth in the NHL with 212 hits this season.

The crazy part of this statistic is that the four players above him have all played at least 12 more games than Martin, who's played in 48 games this season. He doesn't score much, but he provides some value in deeper leagues that reward physicality.

Martin isn't worried about where he will be playing next season, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Martin is in the last of a four-year, $10 million contract and will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Martin plays a physical game and is usually one of the league leaders in hits. The Islanders may want to retain his services, but after failing to re-sign John Tavares after the 2017-18 season and then being spurned by Artemi Panarin last year, their first priority will likely be to find a goal-scorer.

Martin currently sits at seventh in the NHL in hits with 150.

Martin might be higher on the list if not for missing several games due to a knee injury. Martin may not be the most talented of forwards when it comes to puck handling, but his ability to hit anything and everything that moves is what makes him valuable to the Islanders.

Martin was only credited with 10 seconds of ice time during the Islanders 6-2 loss to the Rangers on Monday.

Martin was given a game misconduct along with Brendan Smith of the Rangers for engaging in a second fight during a play stoppage. Ross Johnston and Micheal Haley had already had a bout and were in the penalty box when Martin and Smith were lined up opposite each other for the next faceoff. The duo thought the puck had dropped but the linesman pulled back as the centers weren't squared up properly. Since officially, play didn't start again, Martin and Smith were shown to the nearest exit for the second fight. There were three fights in this contest and with both teams playing a rematch on Thursday, if you're in a league that rewards penalty minutes, you may want to get bruisers from either team in your lineup.

Martin scored the game-winning goal on his only shot and added three hits in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Wild.

Martin put the Islanders ahead to stay six minutes into the third period, beating Devan Dubnyk for a 2-1 lead. It was Martin's first point since Oct. 25, snapping a 17-game point drought. With just three goals and four points in 25 games, he is not a fantasy asset.

Martin hasn't registered a single point since Oct. 25.

Martin only has two goals, an assist and a zero rating in 23 games this season. He missed nine games with a knee injury after colliding with the bench door in October and hasn't scored since returning. Coach Barry Trotz has also stated that the line of Cal Clutterbuck (wrist), Casey Cizikas and Martin is not as effective when one member of that trio is out of the lineup. Clutterbuck being out indefinitely due to a wrist injury could give Trotz a valid reason to sit Martin in favor of a more offensively gifted player.

Martin hasn't registered a point in his last 10 games.

Martin had a goal and an assist Oct. 25 versus the Senators, then missed nine games due to a leg injury before his current scoreless streak. Martin isn't on the Isles to provide scoring, but this is still a bit disappointing. Martin also doesn't have any PIM during the past 10 games but does have 55 hits.

Martin (lower body) will suit up against Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Martin will be back in the lineup in a bottom-six role after spending the past nine games on the shelf. The winger has been limited to a mere seven games this year, but he's put together decent production when available with two goals, one helper and seven shots. With Martin healthy, Ross Johnston and Leo Komarov will find themselves relegated to the press box.

Martin (lower body) will not be in the lineup against Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Brian Heyman of Newsday reports.

Martin did practice in a regular jersey Monday, which is certainly a step in the right direction. While coach Barry Trotz did rule the winger out Tuesday, he could be available versus Pittsburgh on Thursday after getting some more practice time under his belt. Once given the green light, the Ontario native figures to slot into a bottom-six role and shouldn't be expected to provide much in terms of fantasy value.

Martin (lower body) returned to practice Friday, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

While Martin did return to practice, it was in an orange non-contact jersey. The hard-hitting winger will need at least one full-contact practice before being cleared for game action, so it's safe to assume he won't be available for Saturday's game in Philadelphia.

Martin (lower body) could be ready to practice with the Islanders as soon as Friday, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Martin has missed the last seven games due to the injury but could be ready to play as soon as Saturday in Philadelphia or Tuesday in Pittsburgh. He has two goals and three points on the season, but Martin's biggest value to the Islanders is that he is a part of the crash line along with Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas. That line is tasked with hitting everything that moves and is also used to create energy for the Islanders.

Martin (lower body) has resumed skating, Brian Compton of NHL.com reports.

Martin will be sidelined for at least another 7-10 days, but he was originally expected to be out until December, so he's clearly ahead of schedule in his recovery. Once healthy, the hard-hitting winger will return to a bottom-six role.

The Islanders placed Martin (lower body) on injured reserve Wednesday.

Martin is expected to be on the shelf for 4-6 weeks with a lower-body injury, so it was only a matter of time until he was placed on the injured list. The 30-year-old winger can be a useful player to own in leagues that reward hits, as he's racked up 302 of them in 74 games over the past two campaigns, but that's basically the extent of his fantasy value.

General manager Lou Lamoriello said Sunday that Martin is out 4-6 weeks with an undisclosed injury, Brian Compton of NHL.com reports.

It's unclear how Martin picked up the injury and what he's dealing with, but at this point, the best-case scenerio for the winger is a return in four weeks. On the heels of this news, Lamoriello said the team won't call any forwards up at this time, which means rookie Oliver Wahlstrom, Ross Johnston and Michael Dal Colle are in line to draw into the lineup for Sunday's game against the Flyers.

Martin had a goal and an assist and was plus-2 in Friday's 4-2 win over the Senators.

Martin picked up his second goal of the year five minutes into the second period when he deflected a Nick Leddy point shot. He had also assisted on the first of two Leddy goals in the first period. The 30-year-old has been in and out of the lineup this year but is nothing more than a bottom-six role player when he does draw in. He has posted a double-digit goal total just once in his first 10 seasons in the NHL.

Martin was a healthy scratch Monday versus the Blues, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Coach Barry Trotz has been critical of Martin's play, and that had led to his being a healthy scratch in back-to-back games. It may take a little bit for Martin to get back into the lineup, as the Islanders have won both games without him.

Martin has yet to find his game this season, Andrew Gross of Newsday reports.

Coach Barry Trotz has been unhappy with the play of Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck and Martin so far this season. That trio is expected to be the energy line for the Isles by hitting everything that moves. If they aren't playing a physical game, their value to the Islanders is diminished. Martin will look to return to his usual physical self Friday in Carolina.

Martin didn't play in the second half of the Islanders' home-and-home preseason series with the Flyers.

Coach Barry Trotz had stated the no skater would play in both games, so this was to be expected. Martin is expected to once again open the season on the fourth line for the Isles with Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas.

Martin potted his sixth goal of the season into an empty net as the Islanders defeated the Capitals 3-0 on Saturday.

The victory means the Isles will host the Penguins in the first round of the playoffs, which will likely start either Wednesday or Thursday. While the Islanders would love Martin to chip in a goal or two during the series, his main job will be to hit Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and any other Penguin that he possibly can in order to wear them down over a long series.

Martin (upper body) is expected to return Saturday for a home clash against the Flyers, Brian Compton of NHL.com reports.

While he's clearly a bottom-six contributor, Martin tends to chip in offensively every once in a while. He's collected five goals and eight assists as a supplement to 220 hits and 87 blocked shots through 52 games.