Lightning Sign Maroon to Two-Year Extension

As the team said itself: the Big Rig is here to stay. 

The Tampa Bay Lightning locked down one of their key depth forwards on Tuesday morning, agreeing to terms with Patrick Maroon on a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $1 million. 

Maroon, who is playing through the final year of his current deal that pays him $900,000 annually, is now tied to Tampa Bay through the 2023-24 season. 

And it's hard to think of a player who seems happier in their current situation than Maroon.

The 33-year-old has won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning since signing with the team in 2019 -- those being of the back-to-back variety, no less -- and continues to perform as a solid bottom-six forward with hulking size and the odd flash of offense to offer whenever needed. 

Maroon is undoubtedly a depth contributor at this point in his career. Gone are his days of flirting with the 30-goal mark as a top-six power forward, with Maroon's 13 minutes in average nightly workload and 55.2 percent defensive zone start share painting the picture of a more ancillary asset. 

But that doesn't stop Maroon from putting up some possession numbers that might surprise you. Despite his bottom-six workload, Maroon has driven play at a clip of 53.5 percent CF/60 at even strength this season, while the Lightning have put up a 53.37 percent expected goals share with Maroon on the ice. 

At just $1 million per season? That's some tidy business.