Paul Martin

Paul Joseph Martin (born March 5, 1981) is a professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Playing career
Martin played high school hockey at Elk River High School and was the Mr. Hockey award winner. In 2000, he was drafted in the second round, 62nd overall by the New Jersey Devils. He has sound offensive instincts and a projectable frame. He was part of a successful program at the University of Minnesota in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. He helped his school win the 2002 and 2003 NCAA Division I National Championships.

He played for the Devils from the 2003–04 season until July 2010.

Pittsburgh Penguins
Martin signed a 5-year, $25 million (USD) contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010. He made his Penguins regular season debut on October 7, 2010 against the Philadelphia Flyers, picking up the primary assist on Tyler Kennedy's 3rd period goal, the Penguins' first ever at the Consol Energy Center. He returned to New Jersey to face his former team for the first time on October 11 and finished the game with a goal, an assist and over 26 minutes of ice time in a 3-1 Penguins victory.

International play
Martin was named to the United States men's national ice hockey team for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, and again in 2010 for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada along with teammates Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner. Martin, however, did not see any action in the 2006 Olympics, and missed the 2010 Olympics because of a broken arm (being replaced for the latter by Tim Gleason).