While the Boston Bruins would have liked to keep Pat Maroon, they found a solid successor for him.
At the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, the Boston Bruins acquired veteran winger Pat Maroon from the Minnesota Wild. The trade made sense since they wanted additional size and tenacity in their bottom six.
Maroon’s stay in Boston was rather brief. At the time of the deal, he was still recovering from back surgery and had only appeared in two regular-season games with the Bruins. However, he appeared in all 13 Bruins postseason games, recording two assists and 18 penalty minutes. Overall, while his offense was lacking, he provided the Bruins with greater physicality and leadership during the postseason.
The Bruins declined to re-sign Maroon this summer, and he accepted a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. While the Bruins could have benefited from keeping him, they ended up signing an ideal substitute in free agency: Max Jones.
Jones plays in a similar style to Maroon, never shying away from the physical aspects of the game. Jones is not only a strong and tenacious forward, but he is also an impact player due to his pace. This should help him win a spot in the Bruins’ bottom six next season, but he also has the ability to make an even bigger impact than projected.
Jones, at 26 years old, is still young enough to take the next stage in his development. them can thrive when given a fresh start, and the Bruins have a reputation for assisting them in reaching new heights. Perhaps Jones, a previous first-round choice, will be the next to join this pattern.
Overall, while maintaining Maroon could have been beneficial for the Bruins, Jones appears to be a more than adequate alternative. It will be interesting to watch what kind of season the Rochester, Michigan native experiences from here.