Earlier this summer, I referred to Jordan Martinook as a "heart and soul" player for the Carolina Hurricanes, in reference to the team trading for him during the 2018 postseason. At the time, this trade seemed small, but it had ramifications that helped turn the tide for the organization and return to the playoffs.
Now in his 8th season with the Hurricanes, Martinook is not only embracing his leadership role. He's also playing the best hockey of his career. His goal totals have increased year over year, and his points are sticking in the 30s, which he hadn't done before becoming a Hurricane. It has turned this tiny trade into a major victory for Carolina.
Last season: 15-21-36 in 79 games/1-5-6 in the playoffs
Martinook didn't start the season well, providing two assists in the team's first 10 games, but it felt like he wouldn't stop scoring once he finally found the back of the net. He went on a four-game goal streak, including a two-goal, three-point game in Colorado in early November, scoring nine points across an eight-game stretch.
While he didn't score at that pace throughout the remainder of the season, Martinook sprinkled in some big games. He assisted on all three of Jordan Staal's goals against Toronto and provided two helpers in a win over Vegas. By the end of the season, Martinook was flirting with career-highs.
With a goal in his penultimate contest, Martinook set a new best in points. With another goal during the following game, he tied his high in goals after scoring 15 times in his first season with the Canes in 2018-19. His 36 points gave him three straight 30-point seasons while finishing at +16, also the best of his career.
It appeared that Martinook would haunt the Devils once again this postseason, starting their series with three points in the first two games, including an incredible Game 2 performance. However, his postseason was pretty tame. Those three points would be his only points of the series before adding three assists in the 2nd Round against Washington.
Bold Prediction: Martinook hits 200 points as a Hurricane this season
Honestly, this is a fancy way of saying that Jordan Martinook will record at least 32 points this season. He begins the campaign five goals shy of 100 for his career, and he has 168 points across seven seasons with the Canes. Given that he's topped 30 points in each of the last three years, I'm hedging my bets that he can do it a fourth time.
Carving out a comfortable niche with Jordan Staal, I don't think the team's checking line will set the world on fire offensively, but the team is at its best when the "third line" contributes on both sides of the ice. They won't be scoring 40-50 points each, but they'll face tough tests every night as they give the rest of the offense a chance to thrive.
While he'll likely begin the season with Staal, we can't forget that first-line Martinook is always lurking around the corner. We know that he can turn it on with the flip of a switch. Even when he isn't scoring goals or setting up his teammates, Martinook is a team-first guy. He's earned his "A" and will be in store for some milestone moments in 2025-26.