New Jersey Devils: Pat Maroon Decision Bigger Than Hockey
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils lost another player in free agency this week, when Patrick Maroon announced he was signing with the St. Louis Blues. As much as he says the Devils had a shot, this decision was bigger than hockey.
New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero said he offered more money and term to Patrick Maroon to keep him in red and black over blue and yellow. He did his due diligence to keep a player he gave up assets to keep at the deadline. This, as he watched Michael Grabner, Brian Gibbons, John Moore and others walk in free agency.
As long as this process was, and as many times it was “confirmed” when it wasn’t, it looks like the Devils never really had a chance. Unless Shero was willing to overpay by a lot, it seems Maroon just wants to be in St. Louis.
Lou Korac covers the Blues for NHL.com, and he spoke to Maroon about what this deal meant. It was all about his son.
"“We both kind of starting tearing up because it’s a special thing. I’ve been away from him for nine years… that takes a toll on you as a dad and it’s hard being away from your son like that.”"
More from Pucks and Pitchforks
- Should New Jersey Devils Try Load Management With Vitek Vanecek?
- New Jersey Devils Will Prove That Last Year Wasn’t A Fluke
- New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes’ Playmaking Will Outshine His Mistakes
- New Jersey Devils: Chase Stillman’s Performance Causes Concern
- Can Devils Fans Separate Zach Parise Heartbreak From Achievements?
How can you fight that? The Devils are the king of losing the player who’s “going home.” Zach Parise went home to play in Minnesota. David Clarkson went home to play in Toronto. Ilya Kovalchuk went home to play in Russia (this one hurt a little more). This is different. Only the heartless fans will be mad at Maroon for his decision.
This just shows there are some negotiations you cannot win. Shero needed to offer Maroon the world, but it still probably wouldn’t have been worth it. Maroon wanted to be with his son. We can’t blame him for that. Again, some of these decisions are bigger than hockey.
At the end of the day, Maroon signed for one year, and $1.75 million. Of course that’s a deal we’d all want Shero to sign, but he didn’t have that option. Unless Shero could find a way to move Maroon’s kid to New Jersey, it seems like he was leaving no matter what.