Martinez goes over why he is ready to contribute and the type of leader/mentor he intends to be with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Chicago Blackhawks signed one of the most successful active players in the NHL in defenseman Alec Martinez. He may not play in the same role in 2024-25 as when the teams he was on were winning the Stanley Cup and going on deep playoff runs, but he has all of the experience and is able to guide a group of younger Blackhawks toward that destination.

Martinez is a winner of three Stanley Cups, two with the Los Angeles Kings and one with the Vegas Golden Knights. He is even remembered in Chicago for scoring a game-winning overtime goal when he was on the Kings against the Blackhawks in the 2014 Western Conference Final.

Martinez is ready to lead by example, is driven and still wants to play, and is willing to take on a mentor/leadership role with the Blackhawks next season.

When Martinez went from Los Angeles to Vegas in February 2020, there was a good mix of younger players, especially on the back-end, that were imbued with his wisdom and knowledge of the game having already hoisted the Stanley Cup twice.

When speaking on the opportunity and role he has in Chicago now after even more success, Martinez said, “I kind of look at this as an opportunity where I can kind of give back to the game of hockey that’s given me a lot.”

He wasn’t on Vegas when the team entered the league and when the veteran did come in, he helped younger defensemen on the Golden Knights. That culminated with a Stanley Cup in 2023 with most of those young players he helped mentor having a larger role.

Martinez said, “I think part of being a good leader is being able to tailor it to your group or an individual or something like that.” He spent over four years with the group in Vegas and saw many different young players come through. Vegas has had a winning culture since he arrived, but the 37-year-old is coming into Chicago with a large group of young and talented players that haven’t figured out winning in the NHL just yet.

“I have a rough outlook of what I’ve done and I would’ve like to think worked and I would like to think the Chicago Blackhawks think it worked, and that’s the reason in bringing me in,” Martinez said. From his work ethic to knowing when to lead in different ways, someone like him is crucial in helping a team like the Blackhawks take the next step.

Martinez has “been very fortunate in my career to have learned from some pretty special players and people.” He talked to GM Kyle Davidson about that role and what he could do in Chicago. The veteran defenseman is only on a one-year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be extended or he won’t have a huge impact on all of the young D-men in the organization or on the team in his time in Chicago.

When talking about not being in the Blackhawks dressing room yet and knowing everyone, Martinez said “I’m more of a guy who would lead through example. I will speak up when I feel something is necessary.” Picking and choosing the right spots makes the words he does say to the other players mean that much more, he stated.

“I feel good…I still love the game. I still want to play. I feel like I’m effective. I feel like I can contribute.” Martinez won the Stanley Cup in 2023 and as long as he can adequately defend like he has always been able to and lead, there should be absolutely no complaints about having a successful veteran like this in the room in a critical year for the Blackhawks.