Patrick Maroon
Patrick Maroon | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 23, 1988 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey left wing (retired) |
| Known for | NHL career with Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks; three-time Stanley Cup champion |
Patrick Maroon (born April 23, 1988) is a retired American professional ice hockey left wing who competed in the National Hockey League (NHL). Known by the moniker "Big Rig", Maroon's NHL career included stints with the Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Minnesota Wild, Boston Bruins, and Chicago Blackhawks. He earned the Stanley Cup title three times, achieving back-to-back victories with the Blues in 2019 followed by consecutive wins with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
Growing up in St. Louis, Maroon attended Oakville High School before being recruited by Kelly Chase and Al MacInnis to join the North American Hockey League (NAHL). After two successful seasons playing for the Texarkana Bandits, he was selected 161st overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. Maroon spent three years developing within their system before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks, where he made his NHL debut during the 2011–12 season.
During his three seasons with Anaheim, Maroon made significant contributions, particularly during their 2015 playoff campaign. Following uneven performance, he was traded first to the Edmonton Oilers and then to the New Jersey Devils, before returning to his hometown team, the St. Louis Blues, in 2018.
In his sole season with the Blues, Maroon played a key role in capturing their inaugural Stanley Cup championship. Subsequently, he secured two additional Stanley Cups with the Lightning, joining an elite group of twelve NHL players who have won consecutive Cups with different teams—the first since Cory Stillman in 2006—and becoming the first player since members of the New York Islanders (1980–1983) to win three straight championships.
Early life
Born on April 23, 1988, in St. Louis, Missouri, Patrick Maroon is the youngest among four children of Patti and Phil Maroon. His father, a former Division I soccer athlete at St. Louis University, encouraged athletic involvement and held season tickets for the St. Louis Blues, nurturing Patrick’s early interest in hockey.
Maroon attended Rogers Elementary and Oakville Middle School before enrolling at Oakville High School; he left prior to graduation to pursue junior hockey opportunities. By the 2005–06 season, he began playing for the Texarkana Bandits of the NAHL, marking the start of his junior hockey career.
He played minor hockey with the St. Louis Amateur Blues between 2003 and 2005, where his imposing stature (6 ft 1 in, 260 lb) earned him the nickname "Fat Pat." To enhance his skills, Maroon dedicated time to practicing stickhandling with golf balls and extensively roller skating.
As a youth player, Maroon participated in the 2002 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament representing the St. Louis Blues minor team. In 2004, he was drafted by the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League but was released from training camp due to concerns over his weight.
Starting high school alongside his older brother Justin, Maroon secured a place on Oakville’s varsity hockey squad as a freshman.
Early career
While competing in high school hockey, Maroon caught the attention of Kelly Chase and Al MacInnis, who had recently acquired ownership of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) team Texarkana Bandits. After discussions with his family, Maroon joined the Bandits for one season, tallying 60 points over 57 games and earning selection to the NAHL All-Rookie Team. As a newly formed franchise, Maroon and fellow rookies contributed to rink maintenance efforts. Despite this success, he was not selected in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Motivated by Chase and MacInnis to train diligently every day, Maroon shed 30 pounds during that summer and improved his performance to accumulate 95 points across 57 games in the following season. The team relocated to St. Louis and captured their first Robertson Cup National Championship; during this playoff run, Maroon set a league record for postseason scoring with 23 points in 12 games. He became the first player from the Bandits to receive NAHL MVP honors and was drafted by Philadelphia Flyers in round six as pick number 161 overall at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Unaware of his draft status until his father spotted his name on ESPN while he was participating in a roller hockey tournament, Maroon’s selection came as a surprise.
After being drafted, Maroon was assigned to join the London Knights of the OHL—who had originally drafted him in their 2004 selection draft. Although invited to attend both Flyers’ rookie camp and main training camp, he was sent back to London following one exhibition game with Philadelphia’s AHL affiliate. Initially committed to playing NCAA hockey at Ferris State University, he opted instead for major junior hockey after encouragement from Mark and Dale Hunter. Due to concerns about his weight, London Knights arranged for him to work with a personal trainer; during that season he reduced his weight to approximately 217 pounds. In his only year with London, Maroon earned Western Conference All-Star Team recognition as well as team MVP honors after leading with 90 points across 64 regular-season games plus an additional playoff assist before concluding his season with a single game appearance for Flyers’ AHL affiliate Philadelphia Phantoms.
Maroon’s first full professional season (2008–09) began with Philadelphia Phantoms after attending Flyers training camp but being assigned there. He ranked fourth on his team with a total of 54 points over 80 games and led playoff scoring by recording three points in four contests. The subsequent season saw him achieve a personal best of 33 assists despite injury setbacks impacting consistency while also contributing eleven goals on a low-scoring Phantoms roster.
In summer 2010, Maroon captained the United States men's national inline hockey team to gold at the IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship by scoring seven goals and totaling fourteen points across six games—including both a goal and an assist during victory over Czech Republic in final match. However, upon returning to AHL competition, coaching staff criticized his physical conditioning and released him; head coach Greg Gilbert cited deficiencies in commitment and comprehension of professional training requirements. Efforts by his agent to find placements within ECHL or Swiss leagues were hindered as Flyers retained rights over him. To maintain fitness levels during this period without affiliation, Maroon skated alongside Montclair State University’s men's hockey squad for two months and contemplated enrolling in college before learning about an impending trade.
On November 21, 2010, Philadelphia traded Patrick Maroon along with David Laliberté to Anaheim Ducks in exchange for forward Rob Bordson and defenseman Danny Syvret.
Anaheim Ducks (2011–2016)
Following his trade to Anaheim, Maroon was initially assigned to the Ducks' AHL team, the Syracuse Crunch. Coach Mark Holick set high expectations, remarking, "I traded my best player for you." Maroon opened his tenure with an early goal in his debut game and concluded the season with 21 goals and 48 points over 57 contests, attributing his success to dedicated off-season conditioning and effective coaching from the Crunch staff. Although he attended the Ducks’ 2011–12 training camp, he was waived back to Syracuse. His strong AHL performances, highlighted by a hat trick against the Norfolk Admirals, led to his recall and NHL debut on October 25 versus the Chicago Blackhawks. Surpassing 200 points in the AHL, Maroon secured a contract extension through the 2012–13 season.
During the lockout-shortened 2012–13 campaign, Maroon spent most of his time in the AHL but appeared in 11 NHL games, netting two goals. Playing alongside notable players such as Mathieu Perreault and Teemu Selanne was a career highlight for him. In March 2013, the Ducks rewarded him with a two-year contract extension. The following year marked his first full NHL season, where he participated in 62 games and recorded 11 goals alongside 18 assists. In August 2014, Maroon agreed to a three-year extension with Anaheim.
In the final season of that deal, despite missing four weeks due to a sprained MCL sustained against the Buffalo Sabres, Maroon appeared in 71 games. He achieved personal bests with nine goals and 25 assists. His offensive contributions peaked during the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, where he scored eight goals across 16 games on the Ducks' top line, ranking third on the team in both goals and power play points while maintaining disciplined play.
The 2015–16 season began with Maroon positioned on Anaheim’s fourth line and limited ice time; however, his performance improved after reuniting with Corey Perry. He finished with four goals and 13 points in 56 games. Although his offensive output was modest, he accompanied Perry on a trip to Pelican Hill Resort on trade deadline day before being informed of his trade to Edmonton.
Edmonton Oilers (2016–2018)
On February 29, 2016, Maroon was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Martin Gernát and a fourth-round selection in the 2016 NHL entry draft.<ref> He made his Oilers debut on March 3 against the Philadelphia Flyers, scoring his fifth goal of that season.<ref> His physical style complemented star Connor McDavid’s speed, earning him time on McDavid’s wing.<ref> After Edmonton missed the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs, Maroon collaborated with GM Peter Chiarelli and coach Todd McLellan during offseason training, shedding 15 pounds and reducing body fat by 3% with guidance from the team nutritionist.<ref>
On April 11, 2016, Maroon was selected for Team USA's roster at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, joining teammate Matt Hendricks and becoming the first American athlete to represent his country in both inline and ice hockey world championships.<ref> He scored in his first game against Canada; however, Team USA did not secure a medal.<ref> Back with Edmonton, Maroon impressed during training camp despite an early preseason injury and scored in the Oilers’ inaugural game at Rogers Place on October 12, 2016.<ref>
Throughout the entire 2016–17 season, Maroon played alongside McDavid, maintaining a combined Corsi percentage exceeding 50%. Despite Milan Lucic’s offseason signing, Maroon remained McDavid’s preferred winger.<ref> On January 5, 2017, he achieved his first NHL hat-trick during a victory over the Boston Bruins, snapping a long losing streak against that team.<ref> He closed the season with personal bests of 27 goals and 15 assists—the highest totals ever for an NHL player born in St. Louis—with McDavid assisting on 14 of those goals.<ref> Maroon was also named Edmonton’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy recognizing perseverance and dedication.<ref> In the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, he contributed critical goals against both the San Jose Sharks and former team Anaheim Ducks before Edmonton’s elimination in round two; he amassed eight points over 13 playoff games.<ref>
During the 2017–18 season, Maroon sought to maintain his offensive production on McDavid’s wing as both McDavid and Leon Draisaitl re-signed with Edmonton. He secured a position on the top line throughout training camp.<ref> On January 3, 2018, Maroon received a two-game suspension for interference involving Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings; Doughty later stated no ill feelings toward him.<ref> In February, he missed one game due to a lower-body injury; at that time, he had compiled 14 goals and 16 assists across 57 games.<ref> Approaching unrestricted free agency, Maroon acknowledged trade rumors but expressed a strong desire to stay with Edmonton.<ref>
New Jersey Devils (2018)
On February 25, 2018, Maroon was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for J. D. Dudek and a third-round selection in the 2019 NHL entry draft. He voiced his disappointment, expressing his affection for Edmonton’s fans and teammates, while recognizing that the trade resulted from the team’s struggles. Maroon made an immediate impact with the Devils, tallying eight points over 12 games and receiving commendation for his playmaking abilities. Center Travis Zajac emphasized Maroon’s capacity to provide a physical presence near the net, complementing their skilled roster. He wrapped up the season with 13 points in 16 contests before undergoing surgery in the offseason to address a herniated disc.
St. Louis Blues (2018–2019)
Despite solid performances with both the Devils and Oilers, Maroon encountered limited interest as a free agent. Subsequently, he changed representation and declined New Jersey’s offer to sign a one-year contract worth $1.75 million with his hometown team, the St. Louis Blues, on July 10, 2018. Throughout the regular season, he contributed 28 points, including 10 goals and 18 assists, across 74 games.
The Blues secured a spot in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs as the Central Division’s third seed following a remarkable midseason recovery from last place. In the first round against the Winnipeg Jets, Maroon played despite mourning his grandfather’s death and assisted on the decisive goal in Game 1. He played a key role in eliminating the Jets in six games and then scored the double-overtime winner in Game 7 of the second round versus the Dallas Stars. The Blues went on to defeat the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Final, advancing to their inaugural Stanley Cup Finals appearance.
On June 12, 2019, Maroon and the Blues captured their franchise’s first-ever Stanley Cup by overcoming the Boston Bruins in seven games. He ended the playoffs with seven points, underscoring his importance as a contributor during St. Louis’s championship campaign.
Tampa Bay Lightning (2019–2023)
During the 2019 offseason, Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper signed Maroon to fill the gap left by Ryan Callahan’s early retirement, drawing on their prior coaching connection from the North American Hockey League. On August 24, 2019, Maroon agreed to a one-year deal worth $900,000 with Tampa Bay and changed his jersey number to 14. He participated throughout the entire 2019–20 NHL season, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this suspension period, Maroon maintained his conditioning through inline skating. He was named to Tampa Bay’s roster for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers on July 26, 2020. Following the Lightning’s Stanley Cup victory on September 28, 2020, Maroon became only the third player in the post-expansion era to win back-to-back Stanley Cups with different teams.
After this achievement, Maroon signed a two-year contract extension worth $1.8 million on October 29, 2020. On July 7, 2021, Tampa Bay claimed its third franchise Stanley Cup title, marking Maroon’s third consecutive championship and making him the first player since the expansion era of 1967 to win three straight Cups with different franchises.
By February 2022, Maroon had secured another two-year extension. He finished the 2021–22 NHL season with totals of 11 goals and 16 assists (27 points) over 81 games. During the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, he contributed to Tampa Bay’s run to their third consecutive Stanley Cup Finals appearance; however, they were defeated in six games by the Colorado Avalanche.
In the 2022–23 NHL season, Maroon recorded five goals and nine assists (14 points) across 80 games while leading all players with 150 penalty minutes. Facing off against the Toronto Maple Leafs once more in the opening playoff round, Tampa Bay was eliminated in six games. Maroon concluded the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs without scoring any goals and earned one assist over six contests.
Minnesota Wild (2023–2024)
On July 2, 2023, Maroon concluded his four-year stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning after being traded to the Minnesota Wild. The transaction, which also included Maxim Čajkovič, was made in exchange for a seventh-round selection in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, largely driven by salary cap constraints.
Maroon sustained an injury during a game against the Anaheim Ducks on January 27, 2024, leading to his placement on injured reserve as of February 5. Shortly thereafter, on February 7, he underwent back surgery and was projected to be sidelined for approximately four to six weeks. Prior to this setback, Maroon had participated in every game for the Wild that season, contributing four goals and twelve assists.
Boston Bruins (2024)
On March 8, 2024, Maroon was traded to the Boston Bruins in return for Luke Toporowski and a conditional sixth-round pick for 2026. Due to ongoing recovery from surgery, he was immediately assigned to long-term injured reserve (LTIR) upon joining the Bruins. Maroon was reactivated from LTIR on April 13 and made his debut with Boston that same day against the Pittsburgh Penguins. His initial point with the Bruins came during the first playoff round versus the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he assisted on a goal scored by John Beecher.
Chicago Blackhawks and retirement (2024–2025)
Following his tenure with Boston, Maroon entered free agency and signed a one-year contract worth $1.3 million with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1, 2024. This marked his eighth NHL team affiliation.
On March 22, 2025, Maroon declared his intention to retire at the conclusion of the season. His final NHL appearance took place during Chicago’s last home game on April 13, where he received a video tribute and a standing ovation alongside fellow retiree Alec Martinez. The visiting Winnipeg Jets also joined in a handshake line to honor both players.
Personal life
Maroon is married to Francesca Vangel, a native of St. Louis whose family owns the restaurant Charlie Gitto's. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they provided meals from the restaurant to local police and fire personnel in Clayton, Missouri. He also has a son from a previous relationship.
On November 30, 2022, following comments about his weight made by Bruins commentator Jack Edwards during a broadcast, Maroon contributed $2,000 to a Tampa Bay-based charity focused on mental health and body image awareness.
Regular season and playoffs
Bold denotes league leader
2012–13 NHL season || Anaheim Ducks || NHL ||13 ||2 ||1 ||3 ||10 ||— ||— ||— ||— |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–05 | St. Louis Amateur Blues | 18U AAA | 30 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–06 | Texarkana Bandits | NAHL | 57 | 23 | 37 | 60 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–07 | St. Louis Bandits | NAHL | 57 | 40 | 55 | 95 | 152 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–08 | London Knights | OHL | 64 | 35 | 55 | 90 | 57 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–08 | Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–09 | Philadelphia Phantoms | AHL | 80 | 23 | 31 | 54 | 62 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–10 | Adirondack Phantoms | AHL | 67 | 11 | 33 | 44 | 125 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–11 AHL season | Adirondack Phantoms | AHL | 9 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–11 AHL season | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 57 | 21 | 27 | 48 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–12 AHL season | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 75 | 32 | 42 | 74 | 120 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–12 NHL season | Anaheim Ducks | National Hockey League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–13 AHL season | Norfolk Admirals (AHL) | AHL | 64 | 26 | 24 | 50 | 139 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–14 NHL season | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 62 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 101 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 7 | - | 2014–15 NHL season | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 71 | 9 | 25 | 34 | 82 | 16 | 7 | 4 | 11 | - bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2015–16 NHL season | Anaheim Ducks | NHL | 56 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 54 | — | — | — | — | - | 2015–16 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 16 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 34 | — | — | — | — | - bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2016–17 NHL season | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 81 | 27 | 15 | 42 | 95 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 8 | - | 2017–18 NHL season | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 57 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 60 | — | — | — | — | - bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2017–18 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 16 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | - | 2018–19 NHL season | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 74 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 64 | 26 | 3 | 4 | 7 | - bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2019–20 NHL season | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 64 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 71 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -
2020–21 NHL season|||Tampa Bay Lightning|||NHL|||55|||4|||14|||18|||60|||23|||2|||2|||4|||37 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2021–22 NHL season|||Tampa Bay Lightning|||NHL|||81|||11|||16|||27|||134|||23|||4|||2|||6|||32 |- 2022–23 NHL season|||Tampa Bay Lightning|||NHL|||80|||5|||9|||14|||150|||6|||0|||1|||1|||16 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2023–24 NHL season|||Minnesota Wild|||NHL|||49|||4|||12|||16|||60|||—|||—|||—|||—|||— |- 2023–24||||Boston Bruins||||NHL||||2||||0||||2||||18 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" 2024–25 NHL season|||Chicago Blackhawks|||NHL|||68|||5|||14|||19|||97|||—|||—|||—|||—|| |
| NHL totals !848 !126 !197 !323 !1087 !163 !23 !30 !53 !215 |
} International
Awards and honors
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- Living people
- Adirondack Phantoms players
- American men's ice hockey left wingers
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- Ice hockey people from St. Louis
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