Vegas has lost more than the Stanley Cup this season. Alec Martinez, a 16-year veteran defenseman, announced his signing with the Chicago Blackhawks for the 2024-25 season at four million dollars. Alec has always been a solid player, and Vegas fans love him because he is poised under pressure, a nice guy, and a shot-blocking machine. His contribution to the Blackhawks will be monumental, and he will be missed in Vegas.
Alec was born in Rochester Hills, Michigan, outside of Detroit. When he was young, his family moved to Fremont, California, where he started playing hockey. His passion grew, and he joined the San Jose Jr Sharks and then went on to play high school varsity and college at Miami U, where he was a fourth-round draft pick and drafted 97th in 2007 to the NHL.
He was drafted to the LA Kings and assigned to their AHL affiliate, the Manchester Monarchs, debuting in 2008. By 2009, Martinez had made his NHL debut on the Kings roster. Once making the full-time roster, Alec would stay with the Kings until he was traded to Vegas in the 2019-2020 season. He is a three-time Stanley Cup Champion, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication, twice with LA and most recently with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. He has played in the NHL, AHL and, during the 2012 lockout debacle, Alec signed with the TPS Turku, which is in the Ligia League, and then the Allen Americans, who at the time were in the WHL league but have since become part of the ECHL
Alec Martinez’s career is punctuated with unforgettable moments. His 2016-2017 season with the LA Kings was his best, with 82 games, nine goals, 30 assists, and 24 penalty minutes, earning him 39 points. However, his most memorable moments came in the 2014 season when he scored the winning goal in the Western Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Finals in overtime. These moments showcased his skill and his ability to thrive under pressure, creating thrilling experiences for the audience.
