The Tampa Bay Lightning are in a prime position to be buyers. After winning each of their last four games, they now have a 31-20-4 record and are third in the Atlantic Division.
One area where the Lightning should seriously look to improve is their bottom six. Due to this, in a recent article for Daily Faceoff, NHL insider Jeff Marek brought up the possibility of the Lightning bringing veteran forward Pat Maroon back to Tampa.
Marek writes:
"I imagine Chicago’s Pat Maroon will be on the move by NHL trade deadline with a few teams out there looking for toughness along with ‘rings in the room. Maroon checks both those boxes. If you’re Tampa do you consider a reunion knowing you’ll probably have to go through the Florida Panthers at some point in the playoffs?"
This is an interesting idea from Marek, but it also could make sense for the Bolts. The Lightning have missed Maroon's toughness and personality in the room, so bringing him back, especially for a low price, could be worth considering.
Maroon also has the potential to give the Lightning's bottom six a bit more depth offensive production. At this point in the season with the Chicago Blackhawks, he has three goals and 13 points in 49 games. With this, he has more points than Lightning forwards like Zemgus Girgensons, Gage Goncalves, Cam Atkinson, and Mikey Eyssimont this season.
Maroon has also maintained his hard-nosed style of play, as evidenced by his 71 penalty minutes and 82 hits this season.
Overall, the Lightning reacquiring the former fan favorite Maroon would come with incredibly little risk. Let's see if they end up making a push for him from here.
