HOW MUCH MONEY IS MAROON WORTH TO EDMONTON?
Big Oilers winger had a breakout season, but is he deserving of a long-term contract?
Patrick Maroon is playing the mime, lips velcroed when it comes to discussing his parameters for a long-term Edmonton Oilers contract.
But there are a lot of talking points to chew on for Connor McDavid’s left winger, who had a groundbreaking season last year.
1. How many of Maroon’s 27 goals were only because he played with the NHL scoring champ? Remember when we heard that about Jari Kurri in the early days when he was on right wing with Wayne Gretzky? We’re overlooking the salient fact Maroon wouldn’t be there for any length of time if he wasn’t offering up something for McDavid.
2. Do the Oilers wait until, say, Christmas to make sure Maroon’s 2016-17 outbreak of goals wasn’t a one-off ? Or should they get cracking now because if he scores, say, 32 goals, he’s going to cost an awful lot more before he goes the free agent route July 1, 2018?
3. Who are Maroon’s comparables, anyway, when they’re talking contract? Would it be Islanders’ big left-winger Anders Lee, 27, who had a career-high 34 goals last year alongside John Tavares? He makes US$3.75 million this year and next. Would it be winger Patrick Eaves, who had a breakout 32-goal season last year and got a three-year re-up in Anaheim for $3.15 million a season? Or is that really a good example when Eaves is 33 and much smaller than the 29-yearold Maroon?
4. Are the parties looking for three years or four years? If it’s three years, Maroon’s agent, Allain Roy, who represents Oilers Mark Letestu and Kris Russell, might start with $4 million per year in his proposal to the Oilers, which would come out to $12 million. If the Oilers give him longer term, they could be looking in the $3.4 million-per-year range, which is $13.6 million.
5. Would the exceedingly happy, at peace with the NHL world Maroon take a hometown discount to stay here with McDavid and, if not him, then Leon Draisaitl as his centre, on a Stanley Cup contender? Presumably, Maroon would want a no-move clause for that, right?
Maroon makes $2 million now. He’s never had an NHL contract longer than three years.
Maroon’s worth to the Oilers is obvious. He’s a big body, often in ill-humour when the pushing and shoving gets going, with an ability to score in tight, and not just on tip-ins. He had 24 evenstrength goals last year, one more than Nikita Kucherov and the same as Artemi Panarin.
Maroon knows playing with McDavid is a double-edged sword.
“Guys may look at me and say some things because I’m playing with Connor,” Maroon said. “I have to prove it. I’ve been trying to prove everybody wrong the last 10 years. It’s not like I’ve never played with skill guys before. I was with Getzy (Ryan Getzlaf ) and (Corey) Perry. I played with skill players in the minors. Nick Bonino and Kyle Palmieri were my linemates. It’s not like I’m unfamiliar with that.
“I know what I bring to the table and if I get away from that, that’s where my game trends backwards. I’m not the fastest skater but if I can find ways to get position, use my body, use my hands and my hockey sense ...”
Maroon knows he’s fortunate to be with McDavid, who had 100 points last year, but he’s got tools in his box, too. The question is whether 27 goals is his ceiling.
“That’s a hard question. I’ve got to do it again, then you can ask me next year,” he said, with a hearty laugh. “I don’t want to be the guy who just does it for a year.”
The 24 even-strength goals were impressive.
“I need to improve on the power play. If I can improve six or eight goals there, that makes it easier five-on-five,” he said. “I’ve talked to the coaches about improving (power play), making the goalies work a little harder, staying in front longer, having pucks bounce off me for greasy rebounds.”
He’s not going to get new DNA — he plays the way he plays. He’s no dangler.
“I still have to find ways to get into the dirty areas and get open,” he said. “Bring my work boots every single night. I want to be competitive every year. I’m an Edmonton Oiler and I want it to stay that way.”
Guys may look at me and say some things because I’m playing with Connor. I have to prove it. I’ve been trying to prove everybody wrong the last 10 years.