It didn’t take long before Alec Martinez had to address the elephant in the Zoom.
During a video conference with Chicago media, the new Blackhawks defenseman was asked about his 2014 overtime goal against the Hawks in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals that clinched a Stanley Cup Final berth for the Los Angeles Kings and ripped the guts out of the United Center.
“It’s really funny, I didn’t think anyone would bring this up,” he quipped. “I remember it rather vividly.
“I’m kind of surprised it lasted until question two to hear about that. … We definitely had some heated battles.”
The Kings won the Stanley Cup that year — on Martinez’s double-overtime goal in Game 5 against the New York Rangers — and the Hawks won it the next year for their third in six seasons. It’s understandable if Martinez wonders about his reception at the United Center even a decade later.
Did we mention the Rochester Hills, Mich., native also grew up a Detroit Red Wings fan?
“It was cool even as a kid growing up in Detroit, growing up a Red Wings fan, there’s plenty of animosity between the Wings and Blackhawks,” he said. “It’s a storied franchise in the game, but it’s kind of cool to say I’m going to wear that (Hawks) jersey because I grew up watching them — not as a fan because I was a fan of the Wings — but it’s a pretty awesome organization to have an opportunity to be a part of.
“It’ll be different since I’ve been on the receiving end of that animosity and that crowd and atmosphere, but it’ll be fun to be on the other side now.”
But why did Martinez, a three-time Cup winner with the Kings (twice) and Vegas Golden Knights, want to join a rebuilding Hawks team at age 36?
“First and foremost, with the things that (general manager) Kyle (Davidson) did just a few days ago and the roster, what he’s added, I’m pretty excited,” said Martinez, who signed a one-year, $4 million deal amid a flurry of moves on the opening day of free agency that also included Tyler Bertuzzi, Teuvo Teräväinen and T.J. Brodie.
“You see some of the names and guys and pedigree, the hockey world’s fairly small, so the quality of human beings, caliber, that way, I’m pretty excited. I think we’re going to be pretty good too.”
He also relishes the opportunity to help guide the Hawks’ young defensemen such as Alex Vlasic and Kevin Korchinski.
“I talked to Kyle about the mentorship part of things,” Martinez said. “I’ve been fortunate in my career to learn from some special players and people, and I’d be the first to tell you I don’t know everything, by any means.
“(But) I have some experience of playing in big-time games, at the United Center and playing in the playoffs, and I’d like to think to a certain extent I know what it takes to win.”
And, frankly, when he was young, Martinez said he was “fortunate to have people give me a pat on the back and a kick in the rear when I needed it.”
He also did his research while vetting the Hawks. He talked to Nick Foligno and Connor Murphy — Martinez’s roommate with Team USA in the 2018 IIHF World Championship — and he has former teammates who played for Hawks coach Luke Richardson.
“It was all positive,” Martinez said. “It was pretty overwhelming feedback.”
He asked about the lifestyle in Chicago and likes being in the Midwest, closer to his hometown, after living out west his whole career.
“You ask about management, coaching staff … the personalities in the room, the mood,” he said. “Every room is different. Some are more chatty, some more quiet. You try to get a feel for that.”
When he talked to Davidson, he drilled into “What’s the plan?” — what Davidson sees as positives and where the Hawks can improve.
“Any big decision I’ve made in life, you try to get as much info as you can in all facets of the situation,” Martinez said. “You take that info, move forward to the best of your ability.
“When I talked to everyone and when I sat down and thought about it, talked to my wife, Chicago was overwhelmingly a positive thing and I felt if we were able to make it work, I was where I should be. After talking to everyone, I can say I truly believe they’re trying to build this the right way.”
