Patrick Maroon interested in re-signing with Devils

The New Jersey Devils enjoyed a shockingly successful season this year, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2012 after a 27-point jump in the standings from last year. Their playoff run was ended quickly by the Tampa Bay Lightning, but there’s still an exciting future in New Jersey for the first time in years.

Part of that future could involve Patrick Maroon. The big winger was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline as a boost to the team’s playoff push. He helped the Devils by potting three goals and 10 assists over 17 games, a point-per-game pace even higher than the one he put up last season alongside Connor McDavid.

“I loved it here,” Maroon said. “They gave me an opportunity to succeed. I would love to be back. I don’t know where I’m going to go. I’ve never been in this situation before. I’ll have to see what the best situation is for me and my family.

“I’ve never seen a team respond to a coach [head coach John Hynes] the way that this team did to him.”

This summer will mark the first time Maroon can hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent. He’s a late bloomer who didn’t break into the league until he was 25 years old. His most recent contract was a three-year deal with the Ducks that paid him $2,000,000 annually.