Martin's career began with the Boston Bruins in 1941–42 NHL season.
After that season he enlisted in the Canadian military for World War II.
Clare Martin was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in the summer of 1949 along with Pete Babando, Lloyd Durham, and Jimmy Peters for Pete Horeck and Bill Quackenbush.
He played the 1951 season for the Red Wings before being traded to the Chicago Black Hawks with George Gee, Jim McFadden, Max McNab, Jimmy Peters and Clare Raglan in what amounted to an opportunity to shore up a Chicago franchise that was on the decline.
He played only 31 games for the Black Hawks before he was traded to the New York Rangers at Christmas 1951.