The St. Louis Blues have been making a big push to sign one more player. He has played hard to get, but it is looking more and more like the team has got their man.
The St. Louis Blues, as far as many of us are concerned, added enough pieces with their two free agents on July 1 and a big trade. However, the front office disagrees.
The Blues have been making a big push behind the scenes to add one more piece, at least. According to Jeremy Rutherford, one of the most trusted sources on the Blues, the team is on the verge of signing Pat Maroon.
Source: St. Louisan Pat Maroon expected to sign with hometown Blues. https://t.co/8HMD1YiB7n #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) July 8, 2018
Now, this is going to be one of those 50/50 signings. Some fans will applaud it and others will roll their eyes at it.
Of course, you will have those that jump out of their seat and yell that this will take away a spot from one of the kids. That may be true, but the Blues are still going to give their prospects every opportunity to earn a spot in camp. The key word will be to earn that spot.
More from Rumors
- St. Louis Blues Doug Armstrong Not Going Anywhere For Now
- St. Louis Blues: Any Colton Parayko Replacement Would Need to Be Number 1
- St. Louis Blues: Vladimir Tarasenko Trade Rumors, Ready The Facepalm Memes
- TSN Report Links St. Louis Blues To Jakob Chychrun
- St. Louis Blues Trading For Ben Chiarot Would Not Make Sense
Personally, I do think this lessens Jordan Kyrou‘s chances, unless he has an amazing camp. Nevertheless, I don’t think it’s a bad signing – assuming rumor becomes fact.
I admit to personal bias on this. I was the broadcaster for the St. Louis Bandits when Maroon helped that team to an NAHL Robertson Cup.
Maroon was a different player then, scoring goals left and right. However, just because his style of play has changed does not mean the skill is not in there.
Like any good professional, Maroon adapted to his surroundings. As good as he was, he was not good enough to put up 30-plus goals or 60-plus points. But, he transitioned his own game and has been a mainstay in the NHL.
While no fans are going to marvel at his goals scored, he is exactly what this team needs. He has the ability to play on any of the top three lines and is also a physical presence in front of the net.
That last part is something the team has sorely missed. Whether it is a willingness or a coach’s style, the team has simply not gone to the front of the net with any frequency. In today’s game, someone screening is paramount to helping your offense, especially on the power play.
Now, we cannot ignore the other facts that will contribute to whether this is a good deal or not. Money and term are big factors that have not been released yet. In fact, this is all an assumption that Maroon arrives. Rutherford has his sources, just as we are using him as ours.
In the world of sports, things happen like faulty fax machines or changes of heart. For all we know, Edmonton or New Jersey could make one last push.
For now, we will operate under the assumption that the hometown kid is coming to play for St. Louis. I say it helps quite a bit.
It adds more competition to the wing spots. While some would assume it takes spots away, I think it might create opportunity since it takes pressure off the team to play Robby Fabbri immediately.
Maroon scores enough to take pressure off any of the top-two duos, should the Blues play him in a top-six role. He’s gritty enough to fit in a third line spot.
Next: Blues RFA's And Number Swaps
The only apprehension I have is about chemistry, since the Blues will essentially have five players not on last year’s roster (assuming Robert Thomas claims a starting role). That’s almost half your forward lines.
An online pundit of film is fond of saying it is never a mistake to add talent. In this case I agree.