The 31-year-old alternate captain will be in Raleigh for three more seasons.
The Carolina Hurricanes kept the "Marty Party" going in Raleigh as they re-signed alternate captain Jordan Martinook to a three-year, $3.05 million AAV deal on July 1.
Martinook, 31, has brought a dependable presence to Carolina both on and off the ice and he's just one of those glue guys teams need to have.
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Following his signing, Martinook spoke with the media about hid new deal. Here's what he had to say:
On re-signing in Carolina: When it came down to it, I didn't want to leave and if there was a chance to stay, I was going do everything I could to stay. It presented itself kind of towards the end that there was going to be an opportunity. I'm thrilled to be back. It's hard to think about leaving a place you're so comfortable and love so much. So very happy to be back.
On if he fielded offers from other teams: Yeah, there was definitely some other options out there and we definitely entertained them, but I'm glad [the deal with Carolina] got done towards the end of it. Happy to be back.
On if he was worried he wouldn't have the opportunity to be a Hurricane anymore: Yeah. Up until the last day before free agency, we were prepared to go somewhere else. I got to give my wife a lot of credit and a couple pats on the back and maybe a stiff drink because the last week, I've kind of put her through the ringer with everything that's gone on. I'm just happy that she's been supportive. My family and everybody has been supportive. It's good to be back in a place where we've laid down a nice home.
On the departure of some of the team's core pieces in free agency: That's the hardest part about our business and our game. That your friendships that you create over a long time period can go play other places. As a teammate, you're disappointed that they're gone, but as a friend, you're happy because obviously they went somewhere were they think they're going to enjoy. Pretty sure everyone is happy with the deals they got. So as a friend, you're excited for them but as a teammate, you always want to keep your team together as much as possible. Happy for my friends, but as a Hurricane, wish those guys were back. But happy with the additions we made. I know Tom [Dundon] and Eric [Tulsky] are probably not done, so looking forward to seeing what's going to happen with our team.
On the challenges ahead for the team: Obviously we lost some guys, but the standard of our team isn't going to change. We're chasing the Stanley Cup and I think if you ask anybody on our team right now, that's the goal. It's not anything else. As much as the fans are probably worried that we lost some guys, we have guys coming in that wouldn't have signed here if they didn't think they had a chance to win. So the goal isn't changing. For the core that is here, that's the goal. I know being in the playoffs every year, you want it and that was a big part of my decision. I know that this team is a playoff team and I wanted to have a chance to win it. I'm towards the end of my career so you want to give yourself every chance to win. I know Roddy and the staff, everybody's doing everything they can to win it.
On Shayne Gostisbehere signing with Carolina: When Ghost texted me... obviously it was a tough day because you see all your buddies kind of signing somewhere else and then I think for my wife, it was kind of hard on her to see a lot of her friends leave too. So when he texted me, I was pumped. I think I replied in two seconds. He was a great guy and I was disappointed to see him leave last year, but so happy to have him back and can't wait to get going with Ghost again because he's one of a kind. He's a good dude.
On his game getting better with age: I think it's all about being healthy. I went through a stretch there probably three or four years ago where I was struggling with injuries. And obviously when you're hurt, you're in and out of the lineup and there's also a confidence factor that goes along with that. I knew that I had more to give and I came in two years ago in probably the best shape of my life and I think having kids and having older kids, you have to be a lot more disciplined in a lot of the things you do, so I think that helps. So thank you to Chase and Ivy. But I feel great. I told [Jordan Staal] when I turned 30 that 30 is the new 20 and I'm sticking by that. Having him as a consistent linemate was definitely a big help too and just knowing that you can do it. Confidence is a big thing. Even last year, it started off and I didn't score for 20 or 25 games, but I knew I could score. Confidence is a big thing. I'm confident as a player, I know my role, I know what I can do and I hope that that can continue.
On the importance of "glue guys": I don't know, I think everyone thinks I'm the locker room guy because I yell at Svech, but we have a bunch of great guys in our room. Good leadership which obviously starts at the top with Roddy. I think the team has done a great job of bringing in good people and good people just kind of mesh together and it makes it easy to be a locker room guy or makes it easy to have a good locker room when you have good people that just want one common goal. That's been a big part of what the Hurricanes have been and it's made my job, if that's what you're calling it, pretty easy.
On who was the first person on the team to congratulate him on the new deal: Jordo was the first guy that called me because I talked to him two days before and I said it wasn't looking that great. He was like, well just hold out, hold out hope or whatever. But a lot of guys texted me. I think everybody knew that if there was a chance I could stay, I was going to stay. Jordo called right after and I think I sent Jordo the same text that Ghost sent me. I said, 'I'm back.' It's a cool day, very stressful time leading up to it, but when the emotion kind of settled and the excitement took over, it was a great day.
On negotiations with Eric Tulsky: That would be more of a question for my agent. My agent did an incredible job throughout this process keeping me in the loop on everything. Like I said, it kind of came together with Carolina at the last day before the free agency, so I just want to thank Jeff, my agent, for the way it all played out. I'll have to ask him how it went, but we got what we wanted so I think it's good.
