Golden Knights Are Likely To Move On From Alec Martinez

The Vegas Golden Knights are likely to move on from veteran defenseman Alec Martinez this offseason.

The Vegas Golden Knights are likely to move on from veteran defenseman Alec Martinez this offseason.

The 36-year-old has played in 818 career regular season games , another 131 playoff games and has won three Stanley Cups with two different franchises. He's not the biggest or the most skilled defenseman in the league but he blocks shots and does all the little things that don't get talked about enough. 

The Golden Knights are heading into next season with seven signed defensemen and Martinez is currently the only UFA. After the Golden Knights handed out an eight-year contract to Noah Hanifin, it put the organization very close to the cap limit.

The Golden Knights have five forwards set to become UFAs meaning the available cap space they have is going to be spent on forwards and not Martinez. 

Martinez has had an excellent career and despite his performance taking a dip this season, he's a beloved teammate who is going to be thoroughly missed. Alex Pietrangelo referred to him as the best teammate he's ever played with. 

"He’s probably one of the best teammates, if not the best teammate, I’ve ever had. He’s had a phenomenal career, multiple Stanley Cups, been very successful but it’s the person that makes the player and coming to work with him everyday is a special thing. I don’t know what’s in store for him but there’s a lot of guys who enjoy his company and having him around. You’re not going to meet many people that are better than him."

Martinez's future is still up in the air but the Golden Knights franchise will miss him greatly. A dependable guy who you knew what you'd get from him each and every day.

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