Marty Reasoner
A dependable, two-way center who grinded out over 800 NHL games, earning respect for his defensive diligence and faceoff prowess across six different teams.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: February 26·Generation X
Biography
Marty Reasoner's path to the NHL was carved through Boston College, where he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist, signaling the intelligent, complete game that would become his professional hallmark. Drafted by St. Louis in 1996, he never developed into a major scorer, but instead forged a 12-season career as a coach's trusted utility knife in the middle. Reasoner was a defensive specialist, a penalty-kill stalwart, and one of the league's more reliable face-off men. He played significant roles for Edmonton during their 2006 Stanley Cup Final run and later served as an alternate captain for the Atlanta Thrashers. His value was in consistency and hockey sense, traits that seamlessly translated into a post-playing career in player development with the New York Islanders, where he now helps shape the next generation.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Marty was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Marty Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Marty's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played in 818 regular-season NHL games over 12 seasons, scoring 92 goals and 308 total points.
- Was a key defensive forward for the Edmonton Oilers during their run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.
- Served as an alternate captain for the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2010-11 season.
- Named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men's hockey player in 1998 while at Boston College.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues but made his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers after being traded as part of a deal for Doug Weight.
Reasoner won a gold medal with Team USA at the 1996 World Junior Championships.
He and his wife have twins, a boy and a girl.
“Winning a face-off is about out-thinking the other center, not just out-muscling him.”
