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Six years ago, the Oilers trade Patrick Maroon to the New Jersey Devils

Originally posted on Oilersnation | By Aleena Aksenchuk | Last updated 2/27/24

It was six years ago yesterday the Edmonton Oilers traded Patrick Maroon to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a third-round selection in the 2016 NHL Draft and forward Joey Dudek.

When Maroon made his way to Edmonton after a trade with the Anaheim Ducks in 2016, he was already known as a reliable player who could play anywhere in the lineup, and his formidable six-foot-three, 234-pound stature added some size to the lineup.

He finished the 2015-16 season with eight goals and 14 points in 16 games, adding promise to what would come the season that followed.

Although Maroon boasted iron-like fists and was daunting on the ice, he was a big softy off the ice, especially when it came to his family. When the Oilers travelled to St. Louis in December 2016 to take on the Blues, it was a special night for Maroon in particular. He grew up in St. Louis, and his entire family was in attendance for the game, including his eight-year-old son Anthony.

The Oilers won, and Maroon scored the game-tying third-period goal. After the game, in an interview with Sportsnet’s Gene Principe, Maroon was shown a video of his son cheering him on wearing a No. 16 jersey. Maroon crumbled, showing his softer side that made all of Oil Country melt. While he earned the nickname “Big Rig,” his son was donned “Little Rig.”

Maroon quickly found his spark in the 2016-17 season, scoring a career-high 27 goals and 42 points, which ultimately played a role in the lifting of the darkness that poured over the city for a decade when the Oilers finally made the playoffs after 10 years.

Unfortunately, the 2017-18 season didn’t show the same results as the previous season, and the team once again struggled to win, which meant tensions rose among fans and the organization.

Maroon numbers had dropped, although he was still performing well. Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli knew change had to happen, resulting in a series of trades, one of which involved Maroon.

“I didn’t really want to get traded out of Edmonton,” Maroon said months later in an interview with Spittin’ Chiclets.

“I actually loved it there. I actually liked it. The fans are great. You know what the most important thing was? The guys were great. Unbelievable guys. You could not have found a better group of guys. But obviously I got traded for a reason. We weren’t winning.”

Maroon recorded 49 goals and 86 points with the Oilers across 280 games before parting ways with the club in 2018.

He finished the season with the Devils, recording three goals and 13 points. He was later traded to his hometown of St. Louis, where he eventually earned the first of three Stanley Cup Championship rings.

As for Dudek, he never played for Edmonton and finished his NCAA career with Boston College before joining the Worcester Railers of the ECHL. He currently plays for the Coventry Blaze in the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom, where he’s recorded 10 goals and 19 points in 39 games.

This article first appeared on Oilersnation and was syndicated with permission.

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