Martin Gelinas is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 19 seasons. He was born on June 5, 1970, in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada. Gelinas started his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Hull Olympiques in 1986. He played for the Olympiques for three seasons and was a key player in their Memorial Cup championship in 1988.
Gelinas was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, seventh overall, in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Kings in the 1988-89 season and played for them for two seasons before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 1991. Gelinas played for the Oilers for four seasons and was a member of their 1990 Stanley Cup championship team.
In 1995, Gelinas was traded to the Quebec Nordiques, who later became the Colorado Avalanche. He played for the Avalanche for one season before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 1996. Gelinas played for the Canucks for three seasons and was a key player in their run to the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the New York Rangers in seven games.
Gelinas was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 1998 and played for them for five seasons. He was a key player in their run to the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings in five games. Gelinas scored the series-winning goal in overtime of Game 6 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals against the Buffalo Sabres, sending the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.
Gelinas played for the Florida Panthers for two seasons before being traded to the Nashville Predators in 2007. He played for the Predators for one season before retiring from the NHL in 2008. Gelinas finished his NHL career with 660 points (309 goals, 351 assists) in 1,273 regular-season games. He also had 68 points (29 goals, 39 assists) in 146 playoff games.
Gelinas was known for his speed, skill, and versatility. He played both center and left wing and was a reliable two-way player. Gelinas was also known for his clutch performances in the playoffs, scoring several game-winning goals and making key plays in important games.
After retiring from the NHL, Gelinas worked as an assistant coach for the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks. He is currently a player development coach for the Flames. Gelinas was inducted into the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame in 2016.
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