Boston: Pat Maroon is aware that he didn’t have many friends in Boston prior to Friday.
That immediately changed, though, once it was revealed that the burly winger was the newest player to don the Black & Gold. The Bruins had acquired him from Minnesota prior to the trade deadline, which had also sent Providence winger Luke Toporwoski and a conditional 2026 sixth-round pick to the Wild.
Before the Boston Red Sox defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1 at TD Garden on Saturday afternoon, Maroon said, grinning, “I feel like I’m hated here.”
Maroon has faced the Bruins for many years, going up against them in two Stanley Cup Finals: the 2020 second round matchup with Tampa Bay and the 2019 Stanley Cup Final with St. Louis.
Now in his 13th NHL season, Maroon said, “But no, I’m super excited.” Original Six team, fantastic chance. I’ve only heard positive things about the locker room and how amazing it is for us to go out and accomplish our goals, am I right? Here’s another opportunity to play in the playoffs and have a fantastic run.
It should be enjoyable once I see everyone, I suppose. It will be nice to be on the other side with these guys now because, obviously, there have been a lot of chirps and fights in the past. I’m really eagerly anticipating it.
Maroon also expressed gratitude to Bill Guerin, general manager of Minnesota, and Don Sweeney, general manager of the Boston Bruins, for providing him with the chance to join a postseason team.
Billy and I had a conversation, and he asked me what I wanted to do. Maroon said. He asked me if I would like to go to a contender because he too had goals for his club. So good for him for approaching me and asking if I wanted to go try and win another Stanley Cup—I mean, why not?
“To win and make a lasting impression on your career is the ultimate objective when you exit this game. In order to offer me the possibility to have a successful playoff run here, he worked hard for me and gave me the opportunity.
