From Russia to the Rangers: Spencer Martin Embraces the Grind and a New Opportunity in New York
Spencer Martin’s 2024-25 season has been anything but predictable. The 30-year-old goaltender has crisscrossed leagues and continents-Carolina, Chicago, Moscow, Hartford-and now, he finds himself in the heart of Manhattan, wearing the iconic blue sweater of the New York Rangers. It’s been a whirlwind, but for Martin, every stop along the way has added a layer to his game-and his perspective.
“Lots of opportunities that I was blessed to have,” Martin said recently. “I'm learning that you can make a plan, but sometimes God's plan is gonna be the way it goes.”
That journey included a stint with the Carolina Hurricanes organization, where Martin spent most of his time in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. Then came a summer move to CSKA Moscow of the KHL, a brief 14-game run that ended with a contract termination in mid-November. Not long after, he landed in Hartford, and now, he’s in New York, backing up one of the most star-studded goaltending duos in the NHL.
It’s a lot to process in a few months, but Martin isn’t dwelling on the chaos. Instead, he’s leaning into the opportunity.
“After moving around the last few months and experiencing different things, it's exciting to be in an organization like this,” he said.
The Rangers signed Martin to shore up their goaltending depth, and given his experience, he’s a more NHL-ready option than younger prospects like Dylan Garand and Callum Tung, who are still waiting for their first taste of big-league action. Martin may not be the long-term answer in net, but he’s exactly the kind of steady presence you want in the system-especially when injuries start to test a team’s depth chart.
And this isn’t just any team. This is the New York Rangers-an Original Six franchise with a rich history and high expectations.
For Martin, joining a club of this stature is more than just a career move. It’s a moment.
“Obviously, being a New York Ranger speaks for itself,” he said. “It's an honor, and it's just one of the coolest feelings ever to be in this organization.”
The timing of Martin’s arrival aligned with a lower-body injury to veteran Jonathan Quick. With Quick sidelined, Martin stepped in behind Igor Shesterkin, one of the league’s elite netminders. That kind of proximity to greatness isn’t lost on Martin, who’s soaking up every moment he can with the two-time Stanley Cup winner and the 2022 Vezina Trophy recipient.
“Both Igor and Quickie have been extremely welcoming,” Martin said. “It’s been really special to pick their brains just for a moment… I love working with elite guys, and it doesn't get any better than these two. Even just watching them and how they work-it’s really beneficial for me.”
Quick has recently returned to practice, and while there’s no official timeline, head coach Mike Sullivan has hinted that a return could be on the horizon. When that happens, Martin will likely head back to the AHL.
But he’s not treating this stint in New York as a temporary layover. It’s a proving ground.
“In the NHL, everyone's trying their best, so I'm going to work hard, just like everybody else,” he said. “Working with this staff, the sky's the limit for an opportunity to get better and be better every day here.”
It’s the kind of mindset that resonates in locker rooms across the league-humble, hungry, and ready when called upon. Martin knows the road back to the NHL isn’t always a straight line. But after a year that’s taken him from Chicago to Moscow and now to Madison Square Garden, he’s more than ready to embrace the journey.
Because sometimes, the best opportunities come when you least expect them.