Colorado Avalanche Profile: Goalie Spencer Martin

Colorado Avalanche prospect goalie, Spencer Martin, recently signed a new contract with the team, meaning he’ll be around the organization for another season.

Colorado Avalanche backup backup goalie, Spencer Martin, has been in the organization for some time. The team drafted the goalie in 2013 in the third round, #63 overall.

Martin continued to play three more years with his OHL team, the Mississauga Steelheads. He signed his entry-level contract during training camp in 2014.

Spencer Martin started the 2015-16 season in the AHL with the San Antonio Rampage. He split his time that season with the ECHL affiliate Fort Wayne Komets.

The 2016-17 season saw Martin get his first real crack at the NHL. He played three games for the Colorado Avalanche. His numbers weren’t great — 4.35 goals against average, .865 save percentage. But then, nothing went well in that Dismal Season.

Martin sat on the Avalanche bench as backup for several games in the 2017-18 season. However, he didn’t get any more NHL minutes. When both Semyon Varlamov and Jonathan Bernier were injured, Colorado turned to Andrew Hammonds’ services.

Spencer Martin also won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and a gold medal with Team Canada at the  2013 IIHF World U18 Championships.

Spencer Martin Statistics

Position: Goalie
Catches: Left
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 205 lbs.
Age: 23

I’ve already mentioned that  Spencer Martin’s statistics were underwhelming with the Colorado Avalanche. When in the major juniors, he was considered a top prospect because of his statistics. His last year with the Steelheads, he recorded a 2.98 goals against average and .921 save percentage.

The San Antonio Rampage struggled last year, perhaps because it was trying to house two teams’-worth of prospects. Martin played 34 games and recorded a 3.10 GAA and .893 save percentage. His best AHL year was the 2015-16 season, when he went 2.65 GAA and .921 save percentage.

According to Hockey Forecaster, Spencer Martin is considered a “solid goaltender with some upside.” He’s got good size for the position. He displays sound technique and no quit. But he hasn’t been overly consistent.

Spencer Martin and the Colorado Avalanche

Spencer Martin is probably in a holding pattern with the Avs. His first year in the organization, 2015-16, Varlamov was the bona fide starter with Reto Berra and Calvin Pickard as his backups. The next year, Varlamov was still the starter until groin troubles took him out. Calvin Pickard played the majority of the year. Martin got his three NHL games, but Jeremy Smith got 10.

Last season, Varlamov was again the started until injured, at which time Jonathan Bernier took over. As noted, Andrew Hammond got the tap over Martin when both were injured.

Next season? More of the same I imagine. GM Joe Sakic observes that the team now has two number-one goalies — Varlamov and… Philipp Grubauer, whom they traded for. That makes Martin the backup backup again, unless Pavel Francouz successfully challenges him even for that distinction.

To be honest, goalie #3 is probably the best Martin can expect at this rate. The team just signed him to a one-year, two-year deal worth $650,000 in the NHL and $85,000 in the AHL. I imagine the latter is what he’s going to see.

Hopefully Spencer Martin can have a good season next year to be considered for his next NHL shot with the Colorado Avalanche.