Fansided

Patrick Maroon: Anaheim Ducks LW rewarded for strong 13-14

By Natalie G.

May 10, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) and Anaheim Ducks left wing Patrick Maroon (62) reach for the puck in the second period in game four of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 10, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (8) and Anaheim Ducks left wing Patrick Maroon (62) reach for the puck in the second period in game four of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

On Saturday August 2, 2014, the Anaheim Ducks signed Patrick Maroon to a three-year extension contract, through the 2017-2018 National Hockey League season, after the big left winger’s breakout session. “I’ve been a part of the Ducks organization for a while now,” said Maroon. “They gave me a great opportunity to live my dream. I’m just glad to be a part of the Anaheim Ducks for the next couple of years.”

The 26-year old St. Louis native set career highs scoring 29 points with a +11 rating and a team-leading 101 penalty minutes (PIM) in 62 games for the Ducks last season, his first full NHL season. Maroon set a career high in goals, assists, points, plus/minus, PIM and games in 2013-2014, while simultaneously recording a career-best five-game point/assists streak during the regular season. The left winger made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut in 2014, gathering seven points with a team high 38 PIM. Maroon possessed a six-game playoff point streak from April 23-May 8, 2014, the longest streak held by a rookie since Los Angeles Kings’ Warren Rychel in 1993. Maroon finished the playoffs ranked tied for sixth among rookies in scoring and sixth in assists. His new deal is worth an average $2 million per season, as reported to ESPN.com’s Pierre LeBrun.

Maroon worked and endured, eventually joining the Ducks during the NHL lockout-shorted 2012-2013 season.

Apr 27, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Patrick Maroon (62) celebrates as a game winning shot by center Nick Bonino (not pictured) gets past Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) during the overtime period in game six of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Ducks defeated the Stars 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Patrick Maroon (62) celebrates as a game winning shot by center Nick Bonino (not pictured) gets past Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) during the overtime period in game six of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. The Ducks defeated the Stars 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

“It means the world to me,” said Maroon in a phone interview. “It’s been a tough road for me. There’s a lot of ups and downs in hockey, but the Anaheim Ducks gave me a lot of confidence.” Not a first round draft pick and never considered the prized prospect, Maroon was getting to the point where his vision of reaching the NHL and being an everyday player was starting to fade away.

The Ducks acquired Maroon from the Philadelphia Flyers along with David Laliberte in November 2010 in a trade for Danny Syvret and Rob Bordson. The Flyers quickly dismissed Maroon from their American Hockey League affiliate before the trade, never citing a specific reason for their disenchantment with their minor league club’s leading scorer at the time. Maroon has stated that the Flyers dropped him because of a perceived bad attitude and work ethic, but he repaired his career with the Ducks’ minor league affiliates in Syracuse and Norfolk.

Maroon impressed Ducks Head Coach Bruce Boudreau enough in training camp that he was placed into last season’s opening night roster ahead of now-departed Dustin Penner. Maroon was a frequent healthy scratch early last season, but he secured his spot in Coach Boudreau’s lineup in January, even earning playing time on the Pacific Division champions’ top line with Captain Ryan Getzlaf and right-winger Corey Perry. The big left winger scored in consecutive October games against Montreal and Ottawa but did not really come into his own until after Penner was traded to the Washington Capitals in early March. Maroon finished the season with six goals and nine assist in his final 18 regular season games.

“I think after the Olympic break, I came back with an attitude to prove to myself that I can stay,” Maroon said. “It just came, and Bruce gave me all the confidence in the world. Bruce has been good to me.”

Now an established player, Maroon said being a regular on the Ducks is a dream come true and referenced his five years of rolling around in the AHL as rough.  Having success alongside stars Getzlaf and Perry has not diminished his determination.

“I just go out there and try to be the best player I can be every day. If you play with the best players in the world, you know you’re going to succeed,” Maroon stated. “I got the chance to play with Getzlaf and Perry last year, and it elevated my game a lot.”

But just because Maroon signed a contract, does not mean that drive to succeed his over. “I still have to go out there and make the team,” Maroon said. “I have to work hard every day and show them that I want it. I still have to do that every day.”

It now seems that through Maroon’s determination and his persistence for improvement, the successful left winger will continue to wear a Ducks’ jersey for quite some time.

Home/Anaheim Ducks