Confirmed with Link: Blues sign Patrick Maroon (1 year @$1.75m) - ORIGINAL 2018 SIGNING THREAD

[Itsnotatrap]

I think we need to revisit this thread and laugh for a little while.

Yeah, he was not good early and we looked dead and buried, and I made the comments I did. He’s held possession on his stick, both along the boards and behind the net, a ton better and better the deeper in the year he got. Now, some of the biggest goals in Blues history are resulting at the end of all the effort. So, yeah, he’s been more than worth it.

He’s warmed up to the role significantly, and when you look at the turnaround, he’s high up on the list of who is driving it IMO.

 

[Ranksu]

So what you guys think of what kind of payment he'll get or does he re-sign with Blues at all?

If and so he'll resign with Blues what would be his years + term? (AAV$)

 

[bleedblue1223]

Not sure, I think Blais can fill his role, and that would suit Blais the best. I doubt we can fit him in with the raise that Binnington will be getting what the money we'll have to send Petro's way.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

I could see him coming back on another 1 year deal.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I could see him coming back on another 1 year deal.

Yeah, maybe a 1 or 2 with remaining cap, so it doesn't keep us from retaining anyone. I think he earned a little extra for taking a discount.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

I think the big question is do we play on rolling with Thomas as a third line winger again. If so then bring maroon back. If not maybe try to move on.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I think the big question is do we play on rolling with Thomas as a third line winger again. If so then bring maroon back. If not maybe try to move on.

If he comes back, there's pretty much only the 2nd line spot for Sanford, Blais, or even Kyrou. That's not even considering Fabbri, who should either be a spare or move on. Army will have a tough decision to make, that's for sure. Maroon, Blais, and Sanford all earned full-time top 9 spots with their play IMO.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

If he comes back, there's pretty much only the 2nd line spot for Sanford, Blais, or even Kyrou. That's not even considering Fabbri, who should either be a spare or move on.

I want to give Fabbri another year. He looked like a guy who hadn’t played in a year. I think he really needs to get a full off-season together.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I want to give Fabbri another year. He looked like a guy who hadn’t played in a year. I think he really needs to get a full off-season together.

I agree. No risk on keeping him on another 1-year deal.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

No matter what we’re in good shape for next year.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

He'll take another discount because he'll get some fat StL based endorsements like Imo's

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

They’ll re-sign him. Some will probably grumble about the salary too.

I’m more curious what happens to Steen. He is a 4th liner now and in the future. Probably he just plays out his contract, especially with the trade protection, but it would be helpful to free up that salary.

 

[rumrokh]

If he comes back, there's pretty much only the 2nd line spot for Sanford, Blais, or even Kyrou. That's not even considering Fabbri, who should either be a spare or move on. Army will have a tough decision to make, that's for sure. Maroon, Blais, and Sanford all earned full-time top 9 spots with their play IMO.

I think Blais didn't show enough skill regularly enough to be anywhere close to a top-9 lock. I know there's room on O'Reilly's line, but Sundqvist and Barbashev should get more ice time in all situations unless Blais takes a significant leap forward. Sanford is clearly a superior offensive player to Blais right now, too.

Blais, Sanford, and Maroon can be passably stapled onto any line, which is to their credit, but I think a lot of it depends on how they want to use Thomas. Because they probably don't see Thomas as a winger for much longer; and as good as the Maroon-Bozak-Thomas line was, the reason it worked was mostly the improvement in Thomas's game. If he keeps improving, he needs more dangerous linemates.

Fabbri and Kyrou are wildcards and I really don't know how that plays out. But, with or without Maroon, I would be surprised to discover the Blues were considering Blais starting in the top 9 and Thomas on Bozak's wing most of the year.

 

[Ranksu]

Give him 10 mill.$, but only 1-year deal.

 

[steinerecliner]

Maroon seems now the kind of guy who doesn't want to play anywhere else. I think it would be more can the Blues fit him in the cap with having to pay everyone else, more so Binnington out of anybody. He was perfect for the 3rd line with Bozak, and Thomas but even if Thomas moves up with the ROR/Perron line. I still think he be effective is lets say a Kyrou comes up. The bottom 6 will have a lot of moving parts but at the end still effective and the overall team will still have Depth.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

If anyone on this team gets a “thank You” contract, basically deliberately paid above their value, it will be Maroon. I’m OK with this if the term is kept short. It would make me happy for him.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

I honestly can’t see Maroon leaving. He clearly wants to be here. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him take another 1 year deal around 2 million.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

I’d rather replace him with Ferland, but depending on the contract, I wouldn’t be too terribly upset that we brought him back. Gotta think Bozak and Kyrou would be his linemates. Him and Kyrou seemed to have some chemistry when they were centered but ROR in pre-season and early in the year.

 

[EastonBlues22]

Maroon's Game 7 2OT winner was one of the highlights of the postseason and I'll never forget it.

Still, this seems like a pretty easy slot in the lineup to upgrade. He's an ES liability (and the coaches clearly know that given his usage in the playoffs), and routinely the worst player on whatever line he happens to be on. If anything his special team's contributions are even worse. He contributes nothing on the PK, and had a grand total of 2 PPG in 100 regular/playoff games this season...and it's not like he wasn't getting much PP time. That's just not good enough from a net front presence specialist who brings nothing else of substance to the table on the PP.

The Blues might retain him given the feel good vibe that's going on right now, but IMO they can probably do better if they don't.

 

[execwrite1]

You're totally missing the point if you measure Maroon's worth solely on points. Watch how many times he's clogging up the front of the net when the Blues score during the playoffs.

There is no one else in the organization with his combination of size, toughness and skill. He is Berube 3.0 and will be back.

Two years x $2.5 million.

 

[EastonBlues22]

He's "clogging" up the front of the net because that's pretty much all he can do in the offensive zone, and he's not even particularly good at that. Well, he'll win some puck battles on the walls as well, to be fair, but he's hardly alone in that regard on the team. Nor is he the only Blues player who is willing to go to the net, for that matter.

What offensive "skills" does he have? It's hard to even hear someone call him a skilled player.

The implied effectiveness of his net front presence continues to baffle me. I don't know how a fanbase who watched Backes work the front of the net for years can somehow mistake Maroon's imitation as anything even remotely resembling a dangerous weapon, but to each their own I guess.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Please lock this thread or change the title. It makes it look like he got re-signed every time it gets bumped.

 

[Thallis]

He's "clogging" up the front of the net because that's pretty much all he can do in the offensive zone, and he's not even particularly good at that. Well, he'll win some puck battles on the walls as well, to be fair, but he's hardly alone in that regard on the team. Nor is he the only Blues player who is willing to go to the net, for that matter.

What offensive "skills" does he have? It's hard to even hear someone call him a skilled player.

The implied effectiveness of his net front presence continues to baffle me. I don't know how a fanbase who watched Backes work the front of the net for years can somehow mistake Maroon's imitation as anything even remotely resembling a dangerous weapon, but to each their own I guess.

His puck handling and creativity down low and in tight is definitely above average in the league. He makes a lot of surprising plays with the puck to find guys open when he has the puck around the goal line. There's not much else there, but that's a solid skill that has led to a good amount of scoring chances for his role and place in the lineup.

 

[GoldenGOOSE]

NHL fan coming peace. Big time Leaf fan for the majority of my long life. Congratulations guys, to a Stanley Cup win. Pietrangelo to me, in the games that I watched was a total beast. .

Your goalie, Kawhi Leonard of the NHL imo.

I watched one game of O"reilly in the OHL and said he was the best player of that year .

What happened? He got drafted in the second round. He is very slow in open ice, but in the NHL ice, guy is a wizard.

Again congrats...

But you gotta keep Maroon. His child is from St. Louis and he is a heart and soul kind of guy.

Again though, huge congrats.... Great city. You guys deserve it. It ain't easy to win and hot damn, you guys were dead last in the NHL in January, That is insane.

 

[GoldenSeal]

Maroon's my hero. Left money to come home to be with his family and deeply loves the Note. Game 7 2OT Hero. Stanley Cup Champion. Guy won't ask much and he is the definition of heart on this squad. I am sure a ton of people are better than him, but they ain't Pat Maroon and he has contributed to our success, let's not forget that. He was a warrior, not a passenger. This year will be much better for him.