Pat Maroon Could be a Depth Option for the Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs could look to add more physical players to their roster this off-season and Pat Maroon could be the ideal addition.

It’s clear that the offensive style operated by the Toronto Maple Leafs focuses on high-end skill, with some of the most talented players in the NHL at that end of the ice, but a common criticism has been that the team doesn’t have enough physicality to compliment this.

With free agency set to open this Thursday (October 9th), general manager Kyle Dubas could look to add a player or two that can give the Leafs of that physicality to their bottom end that allows the skill players to focus purely on what they do best.

If this is the approach that Dubas opts to take once free agency officially opens, then one current Stanley Cup champion could be high up on the list of potential options.

Maroon Fits The Leafs

The player in question is 32-year-old winger Pat Maroon, who has raised Lord Stanley’s cup at the conclusion of the past two seasons – helping the St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning end the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons respectively as the top teams in the NHL.

The veteran forward has seemingly been overlooked at times in recent free agency windows, seeing his salary drop from $1.75 million with the Blues to just $900,000 with the Lightning after very little interest around the league.

With a second ring in as many seasons, however, some teams might have more interest in Maroon’s services and the Toronto Maple Leafs certainly could be one of those teams.

The St. Louis native is firmly a bottom-six forward in the NHL, but has shown that he can contribute offensively with nine goals and 23 total points in 64 regular-season games with the Lightning this past season, but his main asset if his size and physical style of play. (Stats via Hockey Reference)

Maroon measures up at a sizeable 6-foot-3, 225lbs and is certainly not afraid to throw his weight around, with 104 hits during the shortened regular season before adding a further 56 during his 25 playoff appearances on route to lifting the cup.

The Leafs have a number of ‘large’ forwards but very few of them play an overly physical style and, in a number of regards, Sheldon Keefe doesn’t need them to do that if their primary role relies on their skill.

Maroon, meanwhile, knows his role on teams and recently spoke to Sportsnet 590 about the sort of teams he would be open to joining during free agency – describing them as being teams that have been stuck for a while and are looking to get to the next stage, something that definitely describes the Leafs.

What would also put him firmly in line for a move to the Leafs is his perceived willingness to join, with his comments to Sportsnet 590 indicating that he would certainly field a phone call from Dubas if there is interest from the organization.

Additionally, if Maroon is willing to take another deal around the cost of his last deal, then the Leafs would easily be able to find a spot for him in the line-up, with players such as Jason Spezza and Denis Malgin having already signed cheaper deals to remain with the team.

With the next couple of seasons seeing the NHL operate with a flat cap, the Toronto Maple Leafs need to fill out the roster with players on cheaper deals and the qualities that Maroon offers would make him an ideal addition if he comes at the right price.