One of many NHL’s unlikeliest profitable gamers will retire on the finish of the 2024-25 season.
Chicago Blackhawks left winger Pat Maroon introduced Saturday he can be retiring after a 14-year profession.
He broke the information whereas talking to Chicago Sports activities Community’s Darren Pang forward of the Blackhawks tilt with the St. Louis Blues.
“Generally you have to hand over the whole lot you already know and the whole lot you dreamed of your complete life,” an emotional Maroon mentioned. “I simply know it is time for me, time for my household to start out a brand new chapter in our lives.”
Saturday’s contest in St. Louis was a particular homecoming for Maroon, particularly after his determination was revealed. In 2019, he received his and the franchise’s first Stanley Cup.
“I am simply going to complete this yr like each recreation is my final recreation, you already know, I will play as laborious as I can,” he continued.
Maroon, 36, was drafted 161st general by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007 however wasn’t promoted from the minor leagues till 2011-12 as a member of the Anaheim Geese.
He performed for the Geese for a part of 5 seasons earlier than being traded to the Edmonton Oilers in 2016. He spent almost three seasons with the Oilers till being dealt to the New Jersey Devils in 2018. That offseason, he signed with St. Louis.
That is when Maroon’s profession took off. After that magical 2019 championship, he lifted the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
He was the primary participant in league historical past to win three consecutive Stanley Cups since a number of New York Islanders teammates did so from 1980-83. Maroon can be amongst simply 12 gamers to win back-to-back Stanley Cups with two groups.
Maroon has recorded 125 objectives, 195 assists and 320 whole factors with eight groups in his profession. He break up the 2023-24 season with the Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins earlier than touchdown in Chicago this yr.
He instructed Pang that regardless of being enthusiastic about his household’s future, it might be troublesome for him to stroll away from the game that has been his complete life.
“That is all I do know… it is robust. It is laborious to undergo these items, you possibly can’t actually course of it,” Maroon mentioned.
