Three-Time Stanley Cup Champion Defenseman Announces Retirement

“You’re going to make me tear up," an emotional Martinez told Pang. "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.”

This season, Martinez has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 43 games. The Michigan native signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Blackhawks last offseason.

Martinez has three Stanley Cup championships to his name, winning with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014, as well as with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. He was a playoff hero for the Kings in 2014, scoring series-winning goals in overtime against both the Blackhawks in the Western Conference Final and the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Final.

Martinez began his career with the Kings as a 2007 fourth-round pick from Miami (Ohio).

Martinez returned to the lineup Saturday after missing the past nine games due to a hip injury. As an added bonus, his parents made the trip to United Center to watch him in his final game.

“It truly is the best part. I’ve said that a lot this week, I feel like a broken record," Martinez said. "The best part about this game are the people you meet along the way and the friendships that last forever and that’s the most special thing."