Martin finished second in scoring among Devils defenseman in 2006-07, with three goals and 23 assists.


newjerseydevils.com – The Devils have inked defenseman Paul Martin to a multi-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Martin, 26, is entering his fourth NHL season. The 6-1, 190-lb. blueliner tallied three goals and 23 assists while playing in all 82 games of the 2006-07 campaign, and his 26 points was second among Devils defensemen. He added four assists in 11 postseason contests.

"Paul Martin is an all-situations type of defenseman, and has developed into one of the more talented young players in the National Hockey League," Devils CEO/President/General Manager Lou Lamoriello said.

View Paul Martin's NJD Snapshot

With the re-signing, Martin now knows he'll be a part of the Devils' plans – something he had been hoping for all along.

"I want to be in New Jersey," Martin said via conference call. "I like the way things are run, from management all the way down to the players. It's a good group of guys, and you know you're going to get a chance to win every year."

Martin commented that the additions of Head Coach Brent Sutter and Assistant Coach Larry Robinson played a role in his decision to remain with the team.

"Knowing that the Sutter name has a lot of tradition in hockey and a reputation for making sure you're accountable as a player... I like that," he said. "We need that on the ice and in the locker room. I'm looking forward to it."

Martin called Robinson "one of the best players and minds, coaching-wise, in the game," and added that having the Hall-of-Fame defenseman behind the Devils bench is "definitely an advantage, doesn't matter if you're a veteran or a rookie."

The Minneapolis native was selected with New Jersey's fifth choice, 62nd overall, in the 2000 Entry Draft, and joined the Devils after three-years at the University of Minnesota, where he won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2002 and 2003.

He has recorded 14 goals, 73 assists for 87 points in 232 career regular-season games, all with the Devils.