Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez Bid Farewell in Emotional NHL Finale

CHICAGO – Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez, two notable veterans of the NHL, played their final game at the United Center on April 12, 2025, as the Chicago Blackhawks fell 5-4 to the Winnipeg Jets. The emotional matchup marked the conclusion of Maroon’s 14th season in the league, during which he decided to retire.

Joining Maroon in retirement, defenseman Alec Martinez played his last game as well. While the Blackhawks still have two road games left on their schedule, both players chose to bow out after the home finale, resulting in heartfelt tributes from fans and teammates.

“It sucks, because this is all we knew,” Maroon reflected. “And I’m so happy that I got to share it with Marty tonight. A guy that’s a big-time player, scored big-time goals. Hell of a hockey player, competitor.”

Chicago honored Maroon during the first period, while Martinez was recognized in the third. Both players received a standing ovation, with Maroon visibly emotional as he waved and patted his heart in appreciation. Martinez also acknowledged the crowd, lifting his stick in salute.

After the game, the Jets participated in a handshake line with the retiring players, showcasing respect for the three-time Stanley Cup winners. “I’m not really one for the limelight,” Martinez said, commenting on sharing the spotlight with Maroon.

Maroon, a St. Louis native who will turn 37 on April 23, signed a $1.3 million, one-year contract with the Blackhawks last summer. He announced his retirement plans last month but confirmed the decision to retire after the home finale.

“He’s been awesome. Such an enjoyable person to be around,” said Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard. “Obviously, his experience in the league… he can teach us a lot of things. But I think just the laughs he brings and energy he brings to the room, he’s just a guy that everyone wants to be around.”

Selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, Maroon was traded to Anaheim in 2010 and made his NHL debut in a shootout loss to Chicago on October 25, 2011. He played a pivotal role with the St. Louis Blues, helping them win their first Stanley Cup in 2019. Maroon also claimed back-to-back championships with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021, entering the record books as the fourth player in NHL history to win the Cup three years in a row with two teams.

Concluding his career, Maroon tallied 126 goals and 197 assists across 848 regular-season games, with stints including Edmonton, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Boston. “I’ve been fortunate to do what I love for a living for a long time,” he stated. “As I look back on my career when this is all done, I’m going to look back on the bad times that I went through in Philly to where it got me to where I’m at today.”

Though contemplating a future in hockey, Maroon’s immediate focus is his family, with his wife expecting a child any day. “So we’re going to focus on that, focus on getting back to Tampa, getting settled in and kind of digesting everything and what our next step is,” he said.

Martinez, 37, also brought a distinguished career to a close after winning two Stanley Cups with Los Angeles and one with Vegas. Having joined the Blackhawks in free agency on July 1, he recorded 88 goals and 201 assists in 862 games.

Reflecting on his time with the Blackhawks and the league, Martinez said, “It doesn’t always happen where a player knows when their last game is. So for two guys like that, who have had great careers and have the respect of guys around the league for the way they played the game, it was nice to be able to just do that for them.”