Pat Maroon leaves Blackhawks earlier than expected

Just last month, ahead of a game against the St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks veteran forward Patrick Maroon made an announcement that he will retire at the end of the 2024-25 season. He got emotional in a pre-game interview with Darren Pang, saying:

“I just know it’s time for me, it’s time for my family to go start a new chapter in our lives.”

On Friday however, Pang reported that Maroon will in fact play his last NHL game on Saturday when the Hawks host the visiting Winnipeg Jets. He will not accompany the team out to game against the Canadiens in Montreal, or the contest against the Senators in Ottawa. Chicago may have three games left on the calendar, but tomorrow’s will be the last one for Maroon.

Maroon was drafted in 2007 by the Philadelphia Flyers 161st overall in the sixth round, but after a few seasons in the OHL and AHL, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. Since then, he’s played in nearly 14 seasons with the Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins. In 67 games with the Hawks this season, he has put up five goals and 19 points. He won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in the single season that he played with them in 2018-19. Right after, Maroon secured another two back to back championships with the Lightning, completing a three-peat.

Maroon wants to play his last NHL career game in front of his home fans and that will be the case on Saturday when his Blackhawks face off against the Jets, in what should be an emotional night for the veteran forward.