Focus on a Thrasher: Marty Reasoner

Time for another installment of "Focus on a Thrasher." This week's player is #19, Marty Reasoner.

Marty Reasoner was born on February 26, 1977 in Honeoye, NY.
Marty is a smart boy, he was educated by the Jesuits at McQuaid Jesuit High School for two years. He also attended Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. As well as getting his learn on, he played hockey.



Marty went on to attend Boston College. He was named Rookie of the Year his freshmen year, and named All-American his junior season when he led the Eagles to the NCAA finals.




Marty was drafted in the first round (14th over all) by the St. Louis Blues in 1996. After college he split 1998-2001 between the Blues and their AHL team, the Worcester Ice Cats.




Marty seems to be a habitual Oiler, his first stint with them came when he was traded to the Oilers in 2001. In 2003, Marty missed 38 games due to a severe knee injury sustained from crashing into the boards.





During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Reasoner played 11 games for EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian League.








In 2005 Marty and Oilers came to an agreement and he signed a one year deal with them. In 2006 he was traded in a package deal to the Boston Bruins. Incidentally, as part of that deal, Boston got a draft pick which they used to select Milan Lucic. In return the Oilers got Sergei Samsonov. Unfortunately, Marty missed the Oilers big playoff run.

Marty must really really love Edmonton because in 2006 he signed another deal with them. Marty spent two more seasons there and then made us very happy by becoming a Thrashers in 2008.

Marty has represented the US several times:

* 1996 World Junior Championships

* 1997 World Junior Championships (won a silver medal)

* 2002 World Championships

* 2003 World Championships

* 2006 World Championships






Honors and Awards

1997-98 NCAA - East First All-American Team
1997-98 NCAA - Championship All-Tournament Team
1997-98 HE - Tournament MVP Award
1997-98 HE - First All-Star Team
1996-97 HE - First All-Star Team
1995-96 HE - Rookie of the Year
1995-96 HE - All-Rookie Team

2008-09 Season Notes

* Has set a new career-high with 14 goals this season

* Scored goals in back-to-back games from 3/12-14

* Scored his first game-winning goal of the season on 3/12 at EDM

* Recorded points in three consecutive games (1g, 2a) from 2/24-28

Some of Marty's stats this year:

He played in 79 games.

He scored 14 goals and had 16 assists for a total of 30 points.

He scored 2 game winning goals and 1 short handed goal.

He finished the season with a +11.

So that's the numbers, let's talk about some fun stuff.

Marty is married and has a brand new baby daughter. I was lucky enough to be able to see Marty at practice a few days after his daughter was born. I was able to tell him "Congratulations."

Marty is a UFA this year and we are all anxiously awaiting news of him re-signing.

Not only do the fans like him, the players like him, too. This year Marty won the Players’ Player Award, decided annually by the players and given to the member of the Thrashers who best exemplifies what being a “team player” is all about.

My favorite Marty memory from a game came from the Thrashers Western Conference road trip when they played Marty's old buddies, the Edmonton Oilers. Perrin flipped a puck up in the air to Marty and Marty shot down the ice and scored the game winning goal.

This is my favorite picture of Marty Reasoner. I took it at Thrashers Casino Night. I was taking pictures and he looked up in time to pose. Come on Thrashers, sign Marty up! We love him, the players love him and we want him back!