It'd certainly beat his last appearance on the big ice surface.
His last foray in Europe, with TPS Turku of SM-liiga during the work stoppage almost six years ago, didn't go so well -- to the tune of a broken bone in his left cheek, and a metal plate as a souvenir.
"Other than getting cracked in the face with a one-timer, I certainly enjoyed my time in Finland," Martinez said. "They're great people in Turku and great people at TPS. They took care of me, both before my injury and then they really took care of me afterwards. I'm forever grateful for that. I think the surgeon did a pretty good job.
"We came here for a gold. Unfortunately we aren't going to be able to compete for that, but we have a chance to compete for a medal and that's what we're going to try to do."
A bronze, naturally, is a better souvenir.
He played an integral part in helping Team USA in the tournament, said head coach Jeff Blashill.
"He's a really, really good defenseman in the NHL and he's given us that," said Blashill, who doubles as bench boss during the regular season for the Detroit Red Wings, prior to the tournament's semifinals.
"He's given us a real good veteran leadership. He's a guy that I think manages his game really well. I think efficiency is one of the best things a d-man can have. I had an opportunity to coach probably the most efficient d-man of all time in Nik Lidstrom.
"I think that's the No. 1 quality for defenseman, being able to create some offense through your passing without taking lots of risk. He can do that. He can get the puck out of the zone. He can play good defensively. He can do lots of really good stuff.
"He's been a real good player and a real good leader for us."
Blashill would know about the growth in Martinez's game.
It was he, after all, who recruited the now two-time Stanley Cup Champion to play at Miami University (Ohio) over a decade ago.
"It was a long time ago," said Blashill, who coached Martinez in his three seasons in the NCAA from 2005-08.
"Both of us are different people at this point. I knew him as a young kid at 17-years-old. He's been one of my favorite players I've ever coached going back a long, long time. I have a close relationship with him. We're not as close when we're in this role, but he's somebody that I know is an unbelievable person from an unbelievable family that wants to do right.
"When he said yes, it was a big deal to me, personally, to have him on the team. I thought it was a real important yes, too. We were in a spot where we needed some legit top-four defensemen.
"He certainly has given us that."
