{"id":465291,"date":"2025-03-26T09:30:12","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T13:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=465291"},"modified":"2025-03-25T22:02:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T02:02:31","slug":"a-tribute-to-pat-maroon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/03\/26\/a-tribute-to-pat-maroon\/","title":{"rendered":"A Tribute to Pat Maroon"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Saturday, Pat Maroon<\/a> announced he would be <\/span>retiring at the end of the season<\/span><\/a>. The three-time Stanley Cup Champion will retire after 14 years in the league with eight different teams. In honour of the “Big Rig’s” career, we would like to offer a tribute to a successful career.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Tribute to Pat Maroon<\/span><\/h2>\n

Maroon is known around the league as a reliable forward who will play physically. He is not afraid to drop the gloves with a daring opponent. Furthermore, he has a knack for finding the back of the net when needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Beginning of Success<\/span><\/h3>\n

This tribute to Maroon starts during the 2014-15 season. Maroon was still getting a feel for the NHL but had played in 71 games that regular season, which was a career-high at the time. However, Maroon would find another level in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In 16 games with the Anaheim Ducks, Maroon scored eight goals. He was tied for third on the team in goals and, despite his physical play style, limited the amount of penalties he took. Unfortunately, Maroon and the Ducks would lose in seven games in the Western Conference Final.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maroon and McDavid<\/span><\/h3>\n

Despite acquiring Milan Lucic<\/a> to play alongside Connor McDavid<\/a>, the Edmonton Oilers quickly realized Maroon was better for playing alongside the star forward. Maroon and McDavid promptly became a dynamic duo in Edmonton. McDavid reached 100 points in the season, with part of that being the assists he picked up on Maroon’s career-high 27 goals. In 13 playoff games that year, Maroon recorded eight points. The Oilers reached Game 7 of the second round before being eliminated by Maroon’s former team, the Ducks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maroon and McDavid may have been an unlikely duo, but that made that season special. Many Oilers fans who think back to that season will remember the contributions of the “Big Rig.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Briefly Dancing with the Devil in the Pale Moonlight<\/span><\/h3>\n

Unfortunately, Maroon was not an Oiler much longer. The following season, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils, where he made an immediate impact, recording 13 points in 16 games. <\/span>Maroon earned praise from many teammates<\/span><\/a> for what he brought to the team. Even in a short stint, Maroon still made an impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

That impact made Maroon a seemingly coveted player in the summer of 2018. However, few teams reached out. After switching agents, Maroon nearly returned to the Devils. However, he decided against a reunion in New Jersey. The team he chose to sign with would change his career forever. Furthermore, Maroon changed the fortunes of this franchise in return.<\/span><\/p>\n

Home Sweet Home<\/span><\/h3>\n

Maroon signed a <\/span>one-year contract<\/span><\/a> with the St. Louis Blues to return to his hometown and be closer to his family. The acquisition of Maroon was the last of a series of transactions that turned the Blues into Stanley Cup contenders for the 2018-19 season. The team had <\/span>signed<\/span><\/a> Tyler Bozak<\/a> and had also <\/span>traded<\/span><\/a> for Ryan O’Reilly<\/a>. Furthermore, they <\/span>brought back<\/span><\/a> David Perron<\/a> for a third time. The Blues were ready to be serious contenders.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the season could not have started any worse for the Blues. Head coach Mike Yeo was <\/span>fired in November<\/span><\/a>, and the team began January in last place. For Maroon, he was struggling, and there were rumours the Blues would be trading him. Then, a special night in Philadelphia happened. Jordan Binnington<\/a> <\/span>took the reigns in goal<\/span><\/a> for the\u00a0<\/span>Blue Note<\/span><\/em>. An 11-game winning streak took place. Maroon’s play improved as well. The forward ended up scoring ten goals in 74 games for the Blues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then the playoffs started. The legacy of Pat Maroon began right away in Game 1 of the first round. Playing with a <\/span>heavy heart in light of the passing of his grandfather<\/span><\/a> days before the game, Maroon picked up the primary assist on the game-winning goal. In the next game, Maroon scored a game-tying goal in the second period of a Blues win.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hometown Hero<\/span><\/h4>\n

In the second round against the <\/span>Dallas Stars<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Maroon scored a game-winning goal<\/span><\/a> with less than two minutes left in the third period of Game 3. Playing alongside Bozak and Robert Thomas<\/a>, Maroon helped create a dominant third line for the Blues.<\/span><\/p>\n

That third line came through clutch in Game 7 of the series. The Blues had dominated the Stars throughout regulation and the first overtime period. However, Ben Bishop<\/a> was a brick wall in the net for the Stars. As the second overtime started, the Blues began to slow down. The Stars started to take over the play. It seemed that the game would not last much longer. The marathon would be ending soon. Who would be winning and advancing?<\/span><\/p>\n

Then the Blues got an offensive-zone face-off. Maroon’s line was sent out for the draw. Bozak won the draw cleanly and passed quickly to Maroon, who promptly passed the puck to Thomas. Maroon then headed for the front of the net as Thomas’s shot hit the goal post and fell in the crease behind Bishop. Using his big body, Maroon reached over and knocked the puck in for the win. The Blues were going to the Western Conference Final. The dream season was continuing. The “Big Rig” had become a hometown hero.<\/span><\/p>\n