It is finally official. The New York Islanders have re-signed Matt Martin to a four-year, $6 million contract.

After a long offseason, Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello has locked up his fourth-line left-winger to a surprisingly long deal.

There were rumors Martin was working towards a deal in the fall, but due to Mathew Barzal’s contract negotiations, Lamoriello was waiting to make it official.

Hearing UFA Matt Martin and the #Isles are working towards a new deal. Believe as many as seven teams inquired about Martin when free agency began last week but sounds like he wants to stay on the Island.

— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) October 15, 2020

Martin tallied five goals and three assists in 55 games in the 2019-20 regular season. In the postseason, Martin recorded five goals and one assist in 23 contests.

Martin will provide the Islanders depth in the bottom-six and reunite with Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck. Just three of Martin’s eight points shared the scoresheet with a forward who wasn’t Cizikas or Clutterbuck.

Martin was selected in the fifth round of the 2008 NHL Draft by the Islanders. After signing a four-year, $10 million contract with the Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2016, Martin was traded back to the Islanders on July 3, 2018 for goaltender prospect Eamon McAdam.

“Coming back to the Islanders is exciting for me,” Martin told Newsday in 2018. “In my heart, I was hoping for this.”

Lamoriello signed Martin with the Maple Leafs and re-acquired Martin in one of his first moves with the Islanders.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised that I was being moved,” Martin said. “It’s no secret how the second half of the season played out for me last year. I had a pretty good idea when I was not moved at the deadline I’d get moved in the summer.”

Matt Martin got his contract. It was a long one, showing his value to the team and organization. And with that, the heart and soul of the New York Islanders is back.

David Lazar