Oakville’s Martin claimed off NHL waivers by Blue Jackets

Oakville native Spence Martin has a new NHL home.

The Columbus Blue Jackets claimed the 28-year goaltender off waiver Friday (Sept. 29) from the Vancouver Canucks.

Martin had signed a signed a two-year contract with the Canucks prior to the 2022-23 season.

A third-round pick (63^rd overall) of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2013 NHL Draft, the six-foot-three, 191-pound goalie has appeared in 38 career NHL games with Colorado and Vancouver since making his debut in 2016-17.

Martin has recorded a 14-17-5 record, 3.63 goals-against average and .885 save percentage. He went 14-15-4 with a 3.56 GAA and .887 SV percentage in 35 outings with the Canucks over the past two NHL campaigns.

Martin has also gone 94-85-22 with a 2.88 GAA, .905 SV percentage and 13 shutouts in 214 career American Hockey League games with Abbotsford, Syracuse, Colorado, and San Antonio since 2015.

Last season, he finished with a 7-7-2 mark with a 2.43 GAA, .916 SV percentage and one shutout in 16 games with Abbotsford.

Martin played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with Mississauga from 2011 to 2015, posting a posted a 58-74-11 record with a 3.31 GAA, .904 SV percentage and four shutouts during his OHL career.