Arizona Coyotes targeted Patrick Maroon this off-season
By James Reeve
Alex Galchenyuk and Michael Grabner were the biggest off-season additions for the Arizona Coyotes but they appear to have been in the running for another big-name player.
Patrick Maroon was an unrestricted free agent this off-season, coming off a 17-goal season spent with the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils.
He ended up signing a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the St. Louis Blues, returning to his hometown to be closer to his family while also talking less money than what was on offer to work towards a bigger deal after this year.
But, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Arizona Coyotes appear to have been in the mix for the 30-year-old left winger.
In his latest 31 thoughts article, Friedman quotes Maroon commenting on how he believed he would be offered a ‘home-run’ deal this off-season, which was not forthcoming.
"“Arizona offered me a two-year deal, New Jersey offered me quite a bit more money, but I took a chance on myself.” – Patrick Maroon"
Outside of the Blues, it appeared that Maroon’s former team the New Jersey Devils and the Arizona Coyotes were the other two frontrunners for his signature, with the former Philadelphia Flyers sixth-round pick (161st overall) in 2007 opting to play in his hometown.
More from Coyotes News
- How the Arizona Coyotes could line-up with Logan Cooley signed
- Report: Logan Cooley could be closer to signing Arizona Coyotes ELC
- Arizona Coyotes sign Matias Maccelli to three-year deal
- Ivan Prosvetov signs one-year deal with Arizona Coyotes
- Arizona Coyotes cut Galchenyuk after reported police incident
Maroon has played well to start the 2018/19 season, registering six assists in the Blues’ opening nine games of the regular season, showing the Coyotes what could’ve been had they been successful in luring him to the desert.
Adding Grabner, Galchenyuk and Maroon this off-season would’ve been a coup for John Chayka and would’ve given the Coyotes an even stronger team than they arguably already have.
With goals finally starting to come, it appears that the team are doing okay without Maroon but having the talented winger on their books could’ve been an exciting prospect had it come to fruition.
It is interesting to note that Maroon opted for a one-year deal with the Blues when there was a two-year offer on the table from the Coyotes.
With Maroon set to be an unrestricted free agent again next season, the Arizona Coyotes could consider making another move for him if he doesn’t secure a longer-term deal with the Blues.
dark. Next. Coyotes could be ideal trade partners for Nylander
What do you think Coyotes fans? Would Patrick Maroon have been a good addition for the team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!