Chicago Blackhawks 3X Stanley Cup champ announces retirement after frustrating injury

Before the game, defenseman Alec Martinez announced his plans to retire at 37.

“You’re going to make me tear up,” Martinez told color analyst Darren Pang, via transcription from NHL.com. “I’ve got to get ready for a game but obviously a lot of different emotions today. Just very thankful, very appreciative. I have a lot of people, my family, a lot of people who helped me along the way in this game to get here.

“Once I got here, my wife (Emily), my son, my daughter that I’m going to have in about five days. Just I suppose I’ll have more time to reflect in the coming weeks, but just very thankful, very appreciative of a lot of different things and a lot of different people.”

Martinez joined the Blackhawks on a one-year deal worth $4 million. He recorded 12 points in his 44 games with Chicago.

Before Saturday night’s game, Martinez had been out of the lineup for nine games with a hip injury he suffered in the Blackhawks’ 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues, the same day that Maroon announced his plans to retire.

The Los Angeles Kings selected Martinez with the No. 4 pick in the 2007 NHL Draft. He won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2012 and 2014. He spent time with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he won the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals.

Alec Martinez called his time in the NHL a privilege

Martinez called it a “privilege” to play in the NHL for so long and was thankful to be able to teach some of the young Blackhawks he worked with this season.

“It’s a privilege to play in this league and to have played for (16) years, I never thought I was ever going to do that and I think a lot of other people didn’t think I was going to, either,” Martinez said. “But grateful and thankful for having the opportunity for all the people along the way that help you get there. I’ve been fortunate to have a few really good opportunities to thank them and tonight will be another one.”

The left-hander has appeared in 862 games. He’s scored 88 goals and has 289 total points.