Blackhawks' Pat Maroon makes unexpected retirement announcement

It was announced today that NHL enforcer Pat Maroon has decided that he will retire at the end of the 2024-2025 season.

Maroon has had a fulfilling career in the NHL, which started during the 2011 season with the Anaheim Ducks. Maroon was originally drafted 161st overall in the 6th round of the 2007 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers.

A team he'd never suit up for. He'd leave Anaheim for Edmonton in 2015 and would make his way to St. Louis in 2019 where he'd win his first Stanley Cup.

He'd win two more consecutive cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning during their dynasty in 2020, and 2021.

After four seasons in Tampa Bay, he'd be traded to the Minnesota Wild in 2023 for a 7th-round pick in 2024. He'd be traded to the Bruins for a conditional 2026 NHL pick, and Luke Toporowski.

After 2024 he'd arrive in Chicago as a UFA for a one-year, $1.3 million deal, and will be the place where his NHL career ends.

The former St. Louis, MO-born forward has had a long career that spans over a decade of NHL games played, primarily as a depth forward.

But has been a positive figure in the Blackhawks locker room, and helped players like Lukas Reichel find his footing after a year of finding himself up and down the lineup between the the AHL and NHL.

Maroon has 839 games of NHL experience under his belt and has scored 320 points (125 goals, 195 assists) with 1,071 PIMs to his name.

He wasn't offered a contract extension by the Blackhawks and presumably had no inquiries on his availability.

Congratulations to Pat Maroon for a long and illustrious career in the NHL.