Pat Maroon wants to stay on the first line
By baggedmilk
6 years agoEver since coming over from Anaheim, Pat Maroon has basically been a fixture on Connor McDavid’s wing and if he has any say in the matter that’s where he plans on staying.
It’s funny how things work out sometimes. I remember the relatively small deadline day deal that brought Pat Maroon to town and thinking that he would be a nice complimentary player and that’s it. Little did I know that the player he would compliment the most was Connor McDavid and that the pairing would catch fire together. Knowing how to play with Connor McDavid is a skill in itself, and Pat Maroon seems to have figured it out quite nicely.
Last season, the 29-year-old Maroon set career highs in goals and points (27G & 15A for 42 points) riding shotgun with McDavid and Draisaitl and their success was not lost on him.
“Obviously without those two I wouldn’t have the success I did, but sometimes you’ve got to give yourself some credit too. Those two are very tremendous players, and for me I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing to stay with them.”
I love everything about Pat Maroon. This guy knows that he found a winning lottery ticket in the chemistry he has with the two best players on the team and he’s not going to leave that line without putting up a fight. I love it. What else?
“Obviously Todd McLellan had a really big part in that. He gave me an opportunity to play with those two. For me, I’ve just got to continue what I did last year, come in really good shape again, and hopefully good things fall into place again.”
If you go back and look, you can find rumblings of Maroon showing up in less than stellar shape and it’s nice to know that he’s taking his fitness much more seriously. Hell, the guy was even called ‘Fat Pat‘ early on his career, a label that he surely never wants to see again. Who knows what finally made it click for the Big Rig but I’m sure as shit happy it did.
Keep talking to me, Patty. Tell me more about the hockey.
“Playing with Connor and Leon Draisaitl last year, a lot of people don’t give Leon enough credit because there’s always Connor there.”
More love for Leon? I can get behind that. Break it down for us.
“I think with both of them together really helped me out last year. They obviously see things that certain players don’t see. So for me, I think I was trying to do my part, be big and strong, go to the net hard and hoping for them to find me and hopefully clean up the mess if they got a shot or whatever.”
I mean, the guy surely benefitted from being able to work well with the two best players on the team—there’s no doubt about it. Just think of how Milan Lucic must feel right now. That was supposed to be HIS job and HIS slot on Connor’s line but it’s the Big Rig that saddled up in the slot. When you talk about seizing an opportunity it’s hard not to think about Pat Maroon making the best of the chance he was given, something Lucic couldn’t manage to do.Personally, I’d be surprised if Maroon didn’t start the year to Connor’s left
Personally, I’d be surprised if Maroon didn’t start the year to Connor’s left and I think it will be a fight to take that job away from him.
ON BUILDING OFF OF LAST YEAR
Mar 23, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Edmonton Oilers left wing Patrick Maroon (19) attempts to score on Colorado Avalanche goalie Jeremy Smith (40) in the third period at the Pepsi Center. The Oilers defeated the Avalanche 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
If there’s one thing that we’ve heard hundreds of times over the course of this offseason it’s whether the Oilers seem to know about that more people will be paying attention to them during the coming season. When asked about what it’s going to take for the Oilers to build off of last year’s success, Maroon repeated the same hot truth that we’ve been hearing all summer.
“I think for us, we can’t expect to just do it again.”
Damn straight! Tell us what you need to do, Pat. Talk to the people.
“We’ve got to start out of the gate hot and play how we’re capable of playing and go into the season with confidence and a swagger that we are a good hockey team.”
Yes! A team full of swag daddies. But wasn’t “swagger” a Lucic line? Are you stealing another thing from Looch here? This could get awkward. Let’s move on, Pat. Let’s not bring more attention to the fact that you took his spot again.
“I think everyone’s excited to get this season started. Last year was a tough fall to Anaheim, but we’ve bounced and we came a long way. It was a proud moment not only for the organization but the players to see how far we came from the year before to doing that. I think the guys are really excited and anxious to get the season started. We know what we’re capable of and we know what we have to do to make the playoffs again.”
I don’t know how many of these interview breakdowns I’ve done so far this summer, but they all seem to touch on the same basic ideas. The players know that nothing will be given to them and that the expectations are going to be raised 10 fold, but it’s one thing to know what needs to be done and it’s another to execute on it. I’m excited for the season to get here so we can all stop talking and start seeing. You know what I mean.
ON THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS CONTRACT
Mar 4, 2017; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Patrick Maroon (19) celebrates his third period goal against the Detroit Red Wings at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
One thing we’re going to hear a lot more as the season goes on is how Pat Maroon is heading into the last year of his three-year contract (thanks for paying a chunk, Anaheim). If he can repeat the year he just had then the guy is set to make bank, and the Oilers won’t exactly be ripe with cash. If Maroon wants, he could be an unrestricted free agent after the coming season is over, but, at least for now, his focus is on making the playoffs and trying to win a Stanley Cup.
“That’s been my lifetime goal since I was a little kid. I think Edmonton has a chance to do that. I want to play wherever I can win. It’s not about anything else, but I just want to go out there.”
Even though he’s talking hockey, you know the business side will creep up eventually. When asked if he feels like Edmonton would be in the mix, Maroon didn’t hesitate.
“I love Edmonton, I love the city, I love the fans. If I can keep playing in that jersey for the next few years, I would love to do it.”
We love you too, Pat, and we’d be happy to have you. Just remember everything you just said when the negotiations start.
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