Pat Maroon's wild career announcement: Three-time Stanley Cup champion to retire after 2024-25 NHL season

Chicago Blackhawks forward Pat Maroon, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, has officially announced that he will retire at the end of the 2024-25 NHL season. Maroon made the emotional declaration just before taking the ice against the St. Louis Blues in his hometown on Saturday.

During a pre-game interview, Pat Maroon shared his decision with Blackhawks analyst Darren Pang, reflecting on the difficult choice to walk away from the sport he has dedicated his life to.
"It's tough. Sometimes you've got to give up everything you know and everything you've dreamed of your whole life," Maroon said. "I just know it's time for me, and it's time for my family to go start a new chapter in our lives. It's hard to go through things like this, you can't really process it, but I think it's best for me and my family to go start a new chapter."

The 36-year-old was named to Chicago’s starting lineup for the game and received a heartfelt tribute from the Blues, a team with which he won a Stanley Cup in 2019. Despite St. Louis securing a 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks, they honored Maroon by naming him the game’s “first star.”
Maroon's NHL journey has been nothing short of remarkable. A St. Louis native, he played for eight teams throughout his career and won three consecutive Stanley Cups from 2019 to 2021—first with the Blues and then twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"To get to have a special moment tonight and be in St. Louis, to have my family come to town," he said. "I won a Stanley Cup here, and I'm just going to finish this year as every game is going to be my last game. I'm going to play as hard as I can and do everything I can to keep winning hockey (games). It's all I know... it's tough."
Over 840 regular-season games, Maroon has recorded 125 goals, 320 points, and 1,071 penalty minutes. In 163 playoff appearances, he has contributed 53 points, including 23 goals and 30 assists.
Also Read: “It was an extremely difficult”: Wayne Gretzky’s trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings shook the NHL and Canada
Now in his first season with the Blackhawks, Maroon has registered four goals, 12 assists, and 16 points in 60 games. As he embarks on the final stretch of his career, he remains committed to giving his all in every game, leaving behind a legacy of determination, leadership, and championship success.