Tampa Bay Lightning left wing Patrick Maroon (14) celebrates a goal by center Blake Coleman (not pictured) against Dallas Stars goaltender Anton Khudobin (35) during the second period in game six of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place. Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Lightning forward Patrick Maroon expected to become free agent

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 10/5/20

Patrick Maroon has solidified himself as one of the best bottom-six forwards in hockey after winning back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning. However, it appears the Bolts don't have plans to keep him around.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will stay in touch with Pat Maroon’s camp but it’s expected he’ll be a UFA on Friday. #NHL
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) October 5, 2020

Maroon became just the eighth player in league history to win the Cup in back-to-back seasons with two different teams and the first since Cory Stillman in 2004 and 2006, sandwiched around the 2005 lost season due to the lockout.

The 32-year-old appeared in all of Tampa's playoff games this postseason, registering one goal and five assists in 25 games. He added facets the Bolts were missing in their years-long Stanley Cup pursuit: tenacity and grit.

If Maroon ends up with a new team, it'll be his sixth team switch since entering the league in 2011. Before playing for the Blues and Bolts, Maroon played for the Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils.

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