Edmonton Oilers: Should Patrick Maroon Be Traded Next Week?
By Warsame A
Once again the Edmonton Oilers lost to the Boston Bruins 3-2 last night at Rogers Place. Patrick Maroon only managed to take one shot in 19 shifts during the game. Is it time for the left winger to be shipped out of Edmonton next week at the trade deadline?
The Edmonton Oilers once again suffered another loss last night at the hands of the surging Boston Bruins. After their surprising win over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday, some experts thought that the bleeding stopped temporarily. That, unfortunately, wasn’t the case as the Oilers are heading for the path straight to the draft lottery this offseason.
Nobody has figured out why this team has struggled all season long. Some have pointed the finger at management, the coaching staff or the players themselves. There is one player in particular who has taken a step backward this season—and his name is Patrick Maroon.
Examination
The first line left winger has had a head-scratching season. Last season, he had 27 goals and 15 assists and this year (in 57 games) has 14 goals and 16 assists. That right there is a disturbing trend to look at for any fan of the Edmonton Oilers.
The primary role for Patrick Maroon is to score goals and be an imposing presence as a power forward. The only part of his game that he has improved on is winning his face-off matchups (47.37 percent this year compared to 40 percent last season).
But in the end, Patrick Maroon isn’t getting it done for the Edmonton Oilers. His name is at the top of the trade deadline buzz because he needs a change of scenario. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he would want a pay raise since he’s only making 1.5 million this season as a top line forward.
The problem is that Patrick Maroon has been as a bottom six forward but just peaked last year with 27 goals because of the crazy season Connor McDavid had. Some teams would think otherwise and try to see if they can get him for the right deal.
The Right Deal
That’s why Edmonton Oilers General Manager Peter Chiarelli will need to make a trade that can help this team out right away. Patrick Maroon is still seen throughout the league as a top-six forward, and he needs to be treated that way in trade discussion.
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He should not be traded solely for draft picks—not only is that a stupid idea but it’s also counter-productive. Why should the Edmonton Oilers stock up for more draft picks when they have the best player in the world on their team?
This team doesn’t need draft picks; they need players that are ready to contribute right now. Peter Chiarelli will need to aim for young talented wingers that can complement the gifted centers the Oilers have at their disposal. One name that has been floating around but not genuinely discussed as a trade chip for Patrick Maroon would be Evander Kane of the Buffalo Sabres.
Kane will also be a free agent this summer, but he would be a serious upgrade (19 goals and 20 assists) from Patrick Maroon. There would be a few hurdles for Chiarelli to jump over, including Kane’s remaining salary (5.25 million this season) and if he would try to get another player to balance the trade.
If the Edmonton Oilers want to depart from Patrick Maroon, they better get a player that’s a lot more talented than him and not a draft pick.