Wolves' Martins vows this season will be different

Steve Martins doesn't hold anything against the Chicago Wolves for keeping him off the playoff roster last season.

He certainly didn't enjoy practicing every day with his teammates, then being forced to watch from the stands as they played their most important games of the season.

But he understood it was a veterans numbers game, and he didn't fit into those numbers. That's part of the business.

But when he made the decision to return to the Wolves this off-season, Martins also decided he'd never allow himself to go through that again. When it comes time to choose a playoff roster this season, Martins plans to be too valuable on the ice for the Wolves to take him off it.

"It's a first-class organization," said the 35-year-old Martins. "They handled it professionally, and I thought I did as well. That being said, no hard feelings whatsoever, but it really made me realize that I've got to get into a situation where they can't take me out of the lineup. Whether that's putting points on the board or being the difference each and every game, that's what I got to do.

"I can still play in this league and I can still play well in this league."

Wolves coach John Anderson knows that.

Anderson watched a motivated Martins work out all summer at the Wolves' training facility in Hoffman Estates. From when Martins did his first stint with the Wolves in 1997 to now, Anderson hasn't seen a drop off.

"He's as quick," Anderson said. "If anything, he's stronger. He's probably the most fit player in the American League. If you ever saw him with his shirt off, he looks like a bodybuilder. A 5-foot-2 bodybuilder, but a bodybuilder."

Martins isn't really that short. He's 5-9, and tonight Anderson will put him at center on the second line and expects him to see plenty of time on the power play and penalty kill.

The one thing Martins will look to do more of this season is produce offensively. Until Martin's last game a season ago, which came on Feb. 24, he was putting up just less than a point a game. He had 13 goals and 26 assists in 48 games.

With an off-season unlike any of his previous 12, Martins had plenty of time to contemplate what he needed to do better his year.

"Not playing in a game since the end of February was a big adjustment," he said. "The first exhibition game was the first game for me in seven months. That's the longest period not playing ever for me professionally."

During his time off, Martins did realize a number of things about himself and the game of hockey.

"I learned I really enjoy playing the game," he said. "What we do is really special. We're really fortunate to be playing a sport and games as a profession. I learned I missed the game a lot. I still love it. Instead of taking things for granted, I got to go out and make sure I'm a difference each and every game."