As has been said here, he alone isn't the answer to our toughness problems.. 1 guy isn't going to cut it as a team, as the game showed, we got physically steamrolled last night... the worst I've seen in a very long time. We won the game, but more times than not, games like that I bet we lose. Along with our lack of physical play, we lost the puck ALOT on those hits we took... and created some good chances for OTT. I think it goes without saying, too we are also more susceptible to injuries as well.
As far as Maroon.. I am really liking what I'm seeing so far. He is a tough guy, hard on the puck and the boards.. can pass, shoot, hit and fight. Those types of guys are hard to come by these days. If he continues to play like this, he has every right to be on this team, and I will be royally pissed if BB sits him all the time.
as far the the incident with Maroon and Neil.. I think Maroon had all intentions on dropping them with Neil, but he got a high shot to the face, that stunned him. The whistle blew immediately, and Maroon was like.. cool.. I don't have to fight, and got our team 2 min. I don't think he coaxed him in to anything, regardless of that the Pejorative Slured Ottawa announcers said on NHL network. It was a smart play.
It's been clear for a while now that this team is steering away from the past as a physical team, and going the other direction.