Blackhawks' Maroon to retire after season

Chicago Blackhawks forward Pat Maroon confirmed Saturday that he plans to retire after the season.

"It's tough. Sometimes you've gotta give up everything you know and everything you dreamed of your whole life," Maroon told CHSN's Darren Pang ahead of the Blackhawks' clash against the St. Louis Blues.

"I just know it's time for me, and it's time for my family to go start a new chapter in our lives."

Maroon is a native of St. Louis. Chicago named the 36-year-old to the starting lineup Saturday for what will be his last contest in his hometown.

"To have a special moment tonight and be in St. Louis, to have my family come in town. I won a Stanley Cup here. I'm just gonna finish this year as every game is gonna be my last game," Maroon said. "I'm gonna play as hard as I can and do everything I can to keep winning hockey."

Maroon has four goals, 16 points, and 81 penalty minutes in 59 games this season. He signed a one-year deal with Chicago last summer worth $1.3 million.

He entered Saturday's matchup with 125 goals, 320 points, and 1,071 penalty minutes across 839 NHL contests. Maroon's played for eight teams over his career, with his most notable stints coming with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, and St. Louis Blues.

Maroon won three consecutive Stanley Cups from 2019-21 - one with the Blues and two with the Lightning. He was the first player since 1983 to win three straight Cups.

In 2016-17, Maroon netted a career-high 27 goals with the Oilers. He tallied a career-best 43 points in 2017-18 between the Oilers and New Jersey Devils.

The Philadelphia Flyers drafted Maroon 161st overall in 2007.