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New Jersey Devils: Patrick Maroon Injury Could Hurt Next Contract

By Nick Villano

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 21: New Jersey Devils left wing Patrick Maroon (17) celebrates his goal that brings the Devils within one goal with three minutes remaining during the third period of an NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Playoffs between the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 21, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. The Lightning defeated the Devils 3-1 to win the first round series 4-1. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 21: New Jersey Devils left wing Patrick Maroon (17) celebrates his goal that brings the Devils within one goal with three minutes remaining during the third period of an NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Playoffs between the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 21, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. The Lightning defeated the Devils 3-1 to win the first round series 4-1. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils announced three players were forced to undergo surgery in the past week. Patrick Maroon will be most effected by his injury, since he has free agency coming up.

A surprise announcement from the New Jersey Devils came Tuesday morning. The team told fans about three major injuries to three very important players that needed surgery. Taylor Hall was forced to get surgery on his hand to repair some torn ligaments. Cory Schneider had to get surgery on an ailing hip. Then, Patrick Maroon had surgery on a herniated disc in his back.

The latter of those injuries gives us a lot to talk about. Maroon was the better of the Devils trade deadline acquisitions. They announced the trade at the last possible moment, sending a third-round pick and prospect J.D. Dudek to the Edmonton Oilers in return for the 29-year-old winger.

Maroon was good for the Devils, providing something they really needed down the stretch. Maroon’s best quality is his puck control. While the Devils have plenty of players with speed and a great shot, the team was having trouble entering the offseason zone. Once they were there, too many giveaways took away possession when it mattered. Maroon changed that when he was on the ice.

Even against the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning, Maroon was able to play keep away, setting up important goals. That’s something this team can use, even if he doesn’t fit the fast-attacking offense on paper.

Looking past his fit on the Devils, the news that he had surgery on an ailing back has to give every team targeting him pause. While it was announced the surgery will not affect his availability in the 2018-19 season, a back injury usually lingers. Especially for a guy carrying 225 pounds on a 6’3 frame, the back in much more important.

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Maroon heads to free agency, with his three-year, $6 million contract ending this season. I expected him to get a modest raise, and figured the Devils could give it to him. He could even go for $3 million per season. That probably changed with the news of Maroon’s injury status.

I still think teams will go after Maroon, but instead of being a July 1st signing I could see him being a backup plan for many teams. He can still bring plenty to the table, but a back injury will scare many teams off.

To be fair, Maroon hasn’t missed a ton of games since he came into the league. He only deals with minor injuries that forces him to miss a week or two. The injuries never force him out for significant time. That will be why teams are willing to give him a shot. However, they may be less willing to give him a long-term deal.

I actually think this injury helps the Devils chances to sign him. He’ll likely take a modest raise on a two-year deal. Think somewhere in the two-year, $5 million deal. So, at the end of the day, this back injury could be good news for the Devils.

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