The Big Rig knows where his bread is buttered. Pat Maroon has signed a two-year extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning that will keep him under contract through the 2023-24 season. The deal comes with an average annual value of just $1MM but allows the veteran forward to stay with the organization that he has helped win two Stanley Cups. Per CapFriendly, Maroon is awarded $1MM in actual money per season, and both years of the deal carry a 16-team no-trade list for Maroon.
Maroon, 33, has actually been part of three consecutive championship-winning teams, after lifting the Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 before joining the Lightning. During that memorable run, he had two game-winning goals, including one in overtime of game seven against the Dallas Stars. Another game-winner sent the Florida Panthers packing this past year and Maroon firmly planted himself as a Lightning playoff legend.
There aren’t many players in the league more beloved by teammates than Maroon, even though he likely will never come close to repeating the 27-goal, 42-points campaign he had with the Edmonton Oilers. This year, he has seven goals and 13 points in 45 games while averaging a little over 13 minutes a night, perfectly acceptable from a player earning just $900K. He’ll actually get a raise moving forward but that $1MM cap hit represents very little risk for the Lightning.
The Lightning now have just three pending unrestricted free agents to deal with this summer. Ondrej Palat, who is still a key part of the forward group, Jan Rutta, a depth defenseman who could potentially be replaced internally and Brian Elliott, a backup netminder that has been called upon just nine times this season. The Lightning are actually in a pretty nice spot with Brent Seabrook’s LTIR hit making next year’s cap number look more inflated than it really is. Maroon can be a useful piece at the bottom of the lineup and if that changes, his $1MM cap hit can be completely buried in the minor leagues.
Nice to see JBB extending the Big Rig. One less thing to get done for 22-23′. I’m guessing Palat is gone as an UFA after this season unless he signs a very team friendly contract. Especially with Point’s new contract kicking in next year. Joseph is due a raise as an RFA. A decision about Rutta needs to be made as he is a pending UFA. And a backup for 27 year old Vasy needs to be found if they don’t resign Elliott. Lighting look to be in a decent position to stay in the hunt for years to come.
so they will win the cup each year until 2024. got it.
Sounds like someone is a bit jealous of a well managed cap era team. And don’t put words in my mouth, I said they will be in the hunt. I think it is impressive what Tampa has done in the cap era. It’s surprising to me that JBB has not won “GM of the Year” yet. Ditto with Coop and the Adams.
it’s a joke about how teams with Maroon win the cup but okay then.