Boston Bruins are leaning on this ex-Edmonton Oilers player in their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
EDMONTON -- He might not be the player he was with the Edmonton Oilers, but he still brings a lot to the table.
Pat Maroon - now of the Boston Bruins - was dealt to the Eastern Conference contender after spending most of the year with the Minnesota Wild. He only played two games of the regular season with his new team before the playoffs began - but he's been a contributing factor to the 2-1 series lead the Bruins presently have over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In three playoff games he has one assist while averaging 11:05 of ice time per game. But for Maroon, he offers way more to a team than just point production.
As you can see in the above tweet - he's the kind of player who sticks up for his teammates through thick and thin. Maroon can turn the tide with his physical play.
In three games he currently has 13 hits - with Game four set to happen later today. The biggest hit of his current 13 in the post season came on this play against Timothy Liljegren.
In addition to the physical play, there are intangibles that Maroon brings to a team. He talked about that yesterday after practice to the media present in Toronto, "when you are vocal - specially on the bench [and] in the room it's a sign that you are engaged, you are in the game. Especially if they score a goal [or] if we score a goal - what to say, what to do at the right time."
Pat Maroon.It's tough to not see the logic in what he is saying - given that he is a three time Stanley Cup winning player. He won in three consecutive seasons, once with the St. Louis Blues and twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Players that know what to say and when to say it are huge in the playoffs, and so far the gamble to acquire Maroon has paid off for the Bruins.
Subscribe to Inside the Locker Room for exclusive interviews, as well as sights and sounds from Oilers practices.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss news, interviews or any other updates on the Oilers.