Sidney Esiason Reflects on Life as an NHL Spouse

After her husband, Matt Martin, announced his retirement following 16 seasons in the NHL—14 of which were spent with the Islanders—Sydney Esiason shared her mixed emotions on social media.

“Official retirement from WAG Life,” she noted, referencing her experiences as the daughter of former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason. “It’s been a great, fun, exhausting, emotional, weird, and grateful journey, so let’s be kind to those coming after us.”

Martin, drafted fifth overall by the Islanders in 2008, began his career with the team before moving to the Maple Leafs on a four-year contract in July 2016. Two years later, he returned to the Islanders, where he finished his career.

Over his time in the league, Martin played in 987 games, recording 91 goals, 97 assists, and an impressive 3,936 hits.

Transitioning into a new role, he will serve as a special assistant to general manager Matthew Dersch in the Islanders’ front office.

After the NHL season wrapped up in April, Martin expressed gratitude for his journey with the organization, saying, “This is a special place. I proudly wore this jersey and felt part of this team and community. Throughout the ups and downs, it’s always been a joy to be a part of this team.”

A day after his last home game, Sydney shared on Instagram how proud she is of Martin, reflecting on the challenges they faced together. “With injuries, exhausting trips, and heartbreaks, all of that will eventually fade compared to the incredibly rewarding experience of standing by your side through your achievements,” she wrote.

She concluded by celebrating their family, saying, “We will always be blue and orange. To the people of my island, past and present, organizations, and fans… we love you.” Sydney and Matt are parents to daughters Winnie and Alice, born on June 1, along with twin boys, Henning and Theodore, affectionately known as “Bear.”