Background
Martinez was born in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
Martinez was born in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
He spent his early years playing hockey in Northern California for the Santa Clara Blackhawks and San Jose Junior. Sharks. He earned four varsity letters at Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Hills. He played college hockey while attending Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
He was drafted 95th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2007 National Hockey League Entry Draft while playing for Miami University.
He made his professional debut for the Kings" American Hockey League (AHL) minor league affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, in 2008. A year later, he was announced to the opening roster for the 2009-2010 season with Kings, in which he played four games and had no goals and no assists on six shots on goal.
He was sent back down to the Manchester Monarchs for the first 20 games of the 2010-2011 season. On November 23, 2010, he was recalled by the Los Angeles Kings to replace the struggling Jake Muzzin.
On November 24, Martinez scored his first National Hockey League goal, on the power play, in 4–1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre against goaltender Carey Price.
Martinez had his first multi-point game December 4, 2010, including a goal against Chris Osgood of the Detroit Red Wings in a 3–2 victory for the Kings. After joining the squad for the 2010-2011 season, Martinez earned trust from former Kings Head Coach Terry Murray for solid offensive and defensive play, and that continued after Darryl Sutter replaced Murray in December 2011. On July 8, 2011, Martinez signed a two-year, $1,475,000 contract with the Kings.
With the 2012-2013 National Hockey League season being threatened by a lockout that ultimately wiped out half the season, on December 31, 2012, Martinez signed with the Allen Americans of the Central Hockey League.
He played with them until the end of the lockout. Martinez was injured for 10 of the Kings" first 15 games of the 2013-2014 season, but wound up returning as a regular on the Kings" defense, even contributing to the team"s offense.