The Tampa Bay Lightning have added a key depth piece to their roster as they announced they have signed forward Pat Maroon to a one-year, $900K deal. Maroon, who helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup Championship last season was a big part of the team’s playoff run as he scored a pair of critical game-winning goals last season, including the double overtime goal in Game 7 against the Dallas Stars in the Conference Finals.
“We’re very pleased to add Pat to our organization today,” Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois said. “He brings size and physicality to our group as well as significant playoff experience. We expect Pat’s to be a great addition to the roster.”
The 31-year-old signed a one-year deal with St. Louis last offseason as he was willing to take less so he could be closer to his family, signing a one-year, $1.75MM deal. While it looked early on that the deal might not be working out after Maroon struggled, he turned it around once the team brought in interim coach Craig Berube and proved to be a valuable piece for the team. He scored 10 goals, 28 points and 64 penalty minutes in 74 games last season with St. Louis, and added three goals and seven points in 26 playoff games. However, with a lineup full of long-term deals and top prospects such as Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou and Sammy Blais emerging, there seemed to be little room for the team to keep Maroon despite his heroics. The St. Louis native has played 449 career games with 88 goals and 206 points.
For the Lightning, the team may have gotten a steal in the 6-foot-3 power forward. Tampa Bay is loaded with some high-end forwards, but could use some more depth at the bottom of the lineup and Maroon should fit the bill. Maroon also provides some insurance if restricted free-agent Brayden Point holds out. Regardless, with the loaded lineup in Tampa Bay, Maroon would have a good chance to win two consecutive Stanley Cups. Assuming the team buries goaltender Mike Condon, the team should have $8.1MM in cap room remaining.
Maroon also has a history with Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper as Maroon played for him between 2005-07 in the NAHL junior league, playing for the Texarkana and St. Louis Bandits.
I’m shocked he signed for less than a million. Maroon had a fantastic playoff. Can’t believe he had to take a pay cut.
Well he was tied for 11th in playoff scoring on the Blues with 2 other players. He actually produced at a lower points per game clip in the playoffs than in the regular season. He’s a very good complementary piece but has never been a play driver in his career. Slightly above league minimum is unexpected, but this late in the season it’s much better than a PTO and to be expected.
With all the hoopla on RFA’s this offseason, and now close to cap room for most of teams, and players not signing contracts with the Training camps opening in about 3 weeks, I respect Maroon taking a minimum contract cause he may want to hoist that Stanley Cup for the Lightning , good move by Lightning now in hopes they can sign Point to contract before camps and bury Condon <Bolts have $8.1 million to do so.
Is 8.1 enough to get Point signed?
Not long term but yes