Reports: Blackhawks Ink Old Foe Alec Martinez To One-Year Deal

The Chicago Blackhawks are out here making moves. It was expected that Kyle Davidson would be adding some depth to the team as they look to ice a much more competitive team in 2024-25. Earlier in the day, we learned that they were going to sign Tyler Bertuzzi to a four-year deal which adds some edge to their forward group. He can help them at five-on-five and on the power play.

Well, it isn’t stopping with just forwards. The Hawks have already reportedly come to a deal with a veteran defenseman Alec Martinez. Blackhawks fans will remember him for scoring the overtime winner for the Los Angeles Kings in game seven of the 2014 Western Conference Finals.

One series later, Martinez scored the overtime winner in game five of the Stanley Cup Final which won the Cup for Los Angeles for the second time in three years. Chicago thought they had a chance to repeat which could have been a three-peat based on the results of 2015. It is time, however, to forget about all of that as Martinez comes to Chicago.

He does all of the little things right that you’d expect from a veteran defenseman. He will be great in the room for some of the younger blue liners that the Blackhawks will be inserting into the lineup.

When Martinez’s tenure with the Kings came to an end, he ended up with the Vegas Golden Knights. He spent parts of 11 years with the Kings and parts of 5 with LA.

Between both, he won the Stanley Cup three times. Experience like that is not something you can teach, you can only earn. Bringing a wealth of knowledge on what it takes to win is exactly what the Hawks need and will be getting it from Martinez.

Martinez is not an overall offensive threat. In 818 NHL games, he has 83 goals and 194 assists for 277 points. He can contribute from time to time but defending is where he makes his money. Also, as mentioned before, he brings the heat in the playoffs.

This is a good signing for Kyle Davidson as the defense will have some more stability. You know what you’re going to get from a guy like Alec Martinez who has done a lot of great work in this league. We’ll see how he helps these kids that Chicago is bringing in.

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