Monday: Despite a source telling Rutherford that Maroon would sign in St. Louis, several teams remain in the mix for the power winger. His agent, Ben Hankinson, told Rutherford last night that the Blues are a “strong option” while Andy Strickland of Fox Sports reports that the Arizona Coyotes and New Jersey Devils had shown interest. Lou Korac of NHL.com though has heard that a one-year deal worth $1.7MM with the Blues has been agreed to, and the two sides will negotiate an extension in January.
Sunday: Just two days ago, The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford reported that the St. Louis Blues were interested in local product and one of the top unsigned free agents, Patrick Maroon. Now, Rutherford has confirmed his speculation, writing that the big winger will indeed return home to St. Louis and sign with the Blues. Rutherford hears from a source that this is a done deal that could be announced as early as this afternoon, but no details on the salary or term agreed upon have been revealed as of yet.
Maroon, 30, is coming off a career year in which he recorded a career-high 43 points in 74 games split between the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils. In 2016-17, he also recorded a career-high 27 goals and was one of the team’s top scorers in the postseason. If Rick Nash is indeed set on retirement, or at least taking time off from hockey, Maroon was the top available player on PHR’s Top 50 Free Agents list at No. 12.
Despite rumors that Maroon was interested in a return to either Edmonton or New Jersey, the St. Louis native emerged early as a target of the Blues. However, St. Louis has been busy this off-season, signing David Perron, Tyler Bozak, and Chad Johnson, not to mention several of their own restricted free agents, and then trading for Ryan O’Reilly. Accounting for their official moves to date, the Blues have little more than $5MM in cap space and still need to sign RFA defensemen Joel Edmundson and Jordan Schmaltz to new contracts. As such, many felt that the pairing of Maroon and St. Louis was no longer feasible. Yet, Rutherford reports that the Blues put the “full-court press” on Maroon in recent days, including meeting with him in person and having several members of the team call and convince him to join. It seems that GM Doug Armstrong and the Blues’ front office have a plan for working around St. Louis’ cap crunch.
Maroon is currently rehabbing from off-season back surgery, but is expected to be at full strength for the start of the season. A healthy Maroon is a major boost for St. Louis, even after adding several other impact pieces up front. The 6’3″, 225-lb. forward plays a physical game and is strong on the puck, something that the Blues lacked at times last year. He also adds significantly to their depth at left wing and has a finishing ability that should pair well with many play-makers on the Blues’ offense. While the salary terms will further clarify just how good of a signing this is, it stands to reason that Maroon – who made only $2MM per year on his last contract – is not earning so much as to make the Blues’ salary cap situation irreparable, meaning that he could be a great value for the team moving forward.
Blues have had a nice off season so far, although continuously trading their 1st rounders will come back to haunt them down the road I think.
Did they not gain 2 extra 1st the past two years ? Shattenkirk and Stastny traded ?
Yes they did indeed
They actually gained 3 extra 1st’s over the last two years – they picked up a first round pick for trading Ryan Reaves to Pittsburgh, too
Not really. They traded their first rounders for good players under tean control for years. Not like when the Kings were giving away 1sts for players like Sekera and Lucic
Also Kenn may want to read more often when we have Thomas, Kyrou, Kostin, and our draft picks from this year. Army is smart with the resources and has really done well with revamping this team. I think its Bouwmeester or Gunnarson especially with giving Edmunson a raise and other prospects on D it’s our strong point. Steener is safe.
No, for sure St.Louis is stacked with prospects and the controllable contracts are good, but these are older players…you gotta keep the pipeline moving or things clog up. Best example, Red Wings. They built through the draft for years!!, than all of a sudden stopped and are sitting with oldest team in the league with no real signs of turning it back around. And yes, they cleaned house this year, but any realistic timeline on players drafted this year is at least 2-3 years from now so bye than , they’ve been a bottom team/dumpster fire for 5 years or so.
Zadina will make the team. Barton was a brutal pick but they at least got Zadina
Welcome home!
One of Bouwmeester, steen, or gunnarson is going in a trade to make room for Maroon.
Both Bouwmeester and Steen have no trade clauses and even if they waived their NTC it would require the Blues to give up something else of substantial value with the financial side of their deals. Only Gunnarson of those three has a good chance of getting moved.
Lol where are they getting there information from as Maroons agent has said that he is still deciding between like 4 or 5 teams.
Jeremy is always spot on. It said in the coming days as well as this market has been progressing rapidly. The Blues were 1/4 teams and no one had shown more than interest and looks like army wasn’t hesitating as it seems the only reason this hadn’t been finalized as there’s a move coming. Got to be someone on blue line Gunnarson or Bouwmeester
Why would Maroon take 1/1.7 that’s a terrible deal for him. Boston should offer 1/3 or something, really any team in the league should offer 1 year at 3 mil… he must really like STL. And why would he take less this season and then negotiate a mid season extension?? Wouldn’t it be he takes more now and then takes an extension at a lower AAV?
The blues have very little cap space, so maybe hes giving them a bargain now, for an overpaid future investment
Maroon lives in St. Louis. He wants to come home to play for his home town team.
He’s from St. Louis and has always wanted to play for the blues. Plus if you look at the roster, youth there’s a lot to think this team can go places this coming season. The blues are what the cubs were a few years back. So bringing home a cup back home is something he can’t achieve anywhere else. Once cap room opens up either trade or those that come off the books he can get more. With Lou and Jeremy I think this trade becomes official in the next couple of days
He’s from St. Louis, and most importantly is he’s got a son here in St. Louis he wants to be closer to on a regular basis. It does seem that if he signs for a small amount on a 1-year, he’ll get get a longer and larger deal when the calendar turns and the cap space will appear to open.
Im not exactly sure who’s coming off next year, but I do believe Jay B. is off at around 5mil per year. Figure that money will move to Maroon at some point.