Spencer Martin Released from CSKA Moscow
In a surprising turn of events, Spencer Martin, a Canadian goaltender aged 30, has been released from his contract with CSKA Moscow, as announced by the KHL club on Tuesday. This decision comes following Martin’s debut season outside of North America after he signed on with CSKA during the off-season.
Performance Overview
Throughout the first 25 games of the current season, Martin shared the goaltending responsibilities nearly evenly with 22-year-old Dmitri Gazmin, a prospect for the New York Islanders. However, Gazmin outperformed him slightly, boasting a goals-against average (GAA) of 1.95 and a save percentage of .933 in his 13 games, compared to Martin’s GAA of 2.69 and .905 save percentage over 14 games. Notably, both goalies recorded two shutouts each.
Martin’s last appearance on the ice was on November 3, following a transaction in which CSKA acquired goaltender Ilya Samsonov from Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Currently, CSKA Moscow finds itself in a challenging position, ranked ninth in the KHL’s Western Conference with a total of 26 points after 25 matches.
Career Background
Originally hailing from Oakville, Ontario, Martin made his mark in the OHL playing for the Mississauga Steelheads before being chosen by the Colorado Avalanche as the 60th overall pick in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Between 2016 and 2022, he participated in 66 NHL games across teams including the Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Carolina Hurricanes, recording a win-loss record of 24-30-8, with a GAA of 3.31 and a save percentage of .833, including one shutout.
His tenure with the Canucks was highlighted by a promising stint in the late 2021-22 season, where he achieved a GAA of 1.74 and a save percentage of .950 in six games. Unfortunately, when Canucks’ starting goaltender Thatcher Demko was sidelined by injury, Martin struggled to maintain his level of performance, eventually leading to his reassignment to the AHL upon Demko’s return.
Broader Trends in the KHL
Martin’s departure from CSKA is reflective of a broader trend as several players have recently exited KHL teams for various personal reasons, emphasizing the growing impact of familial obligations on professional athletes in the league.
