Bruins followers have grow to be all too accustomed to Pat Maroon over time. And the hulking wing has an concept of how he was perceived right here in Boston, his new hockey house.
“Yeah, I feel like I’m hated here,” stated Maroon with a chuckle whereas assembly with Boston reporters for the primary time since being acquired from Minnesota on Friday.
When you win a Stanley Cup on Garden ice and also you’re not carrying a Bruin uniform, these passions are likely to stand up within the fandom. But if Brad Park could be embraced by the Bruin devoted, anybody can. And it’s not like Maroon’s model hockey rugged hockey that’s not appreciated on this metropolis. Maroon himself appeared to know that.
“I’m super excited, an Original Six team, a great opportunity,” he stated. “I’ve heard nothing but good things about the locker room and a great opportunity to achieve our goals. It’s a great chance to play in the playoffs and have another run.”
Maroon remains to be recovering from disc surgical procedure on Feb. 7 and doesn’t but have a goal date. But he has began skating and he stated he’ll be with the workforce at house and on the street as he continues to his rehab.
“I’m not too far out,” stated Maroon.
When he arrived the Garden on Saturday, he was introduced into the interview room earlier than he had an opportunity to fulfill his new teammates, lots of whom he’s had lengthy, working battles with, like captain Brad Marchand.
“Once I see everyone, it’s going to be fun,” stated Maroon. “Obviously, there’s been a lot of chirps and a lot of fighting in the past with these guys. It’s going to be good to be on the other side with these guys now. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s probably going to be an easy transition, so I’m looking forward to it.”
After the B’s 5-1 win over the Penguins, Marchand stated, not surprisingly, that he was all good with Maroon.
“I’ve met him before numerous times over the past few years. He’s a great guy off the ice. Never enjoyed him on the ice. We’re really looking forward to having him with our group. He brings a lot of energy and emotion in the room and on the ice and we’re happy to have him here,” stated Marchand.
Maroon’s wanting ahead to pulling on the Bruins’ sweater.
“It gives me chills thinking about it,” stated Maroon. “I’m really looking forward to it, just to put that jersey on and go out there. I know these fans are very passionate about their sports. I’m just really looking forward to putting that jersey and going out there and playing and working for the guys. My old high school team is the Bruins colors, so I feel like it was meant to be.”
Maroon was additionally requested to reminisce about one of many extra ache Bruin reminiscences of he final decade, when he and his St. Louis Blues got here into the Garden and received Game 7 of the 2019 Cup finals.
“I would say the first 15 minutes of the Game 7, they had us on our heels,” stated Maroon. “But it’s a game of adversity and things that change in time. We get a tip-in and then we get that late goal (in the first period). But I think they had all the momentum going into Game 7. They had us on our heels and Jordan Binnington stepped up. I think they were both good teams and sometimes you need puck luck and good saves and good goaltending to win.”
That was his first of three straight Cups with the following two coming with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now, thanks partly to Minnesota Wild GM Billy Guerin, he hopes to chase a fourth.
“He asked me if I wanted to go to a contender, so kudos to him for coming up to me and asking me if I wanted to to go try and win another Stanley Cup,” stated Maroon. “And why not? That’s the ultimate goal when you leave this game, to win and put a stamp on your career. He gave me the opportunity and he worked hard for me to go on a nice playoff run.”
Maroon will put on No. 61
Positive Peeke
The Bruins will see Andrew Peeke in uniform earlier than Maroon. After being scratched for all however 23 video games this 12 months after taking part in 162 over the earlier two years, the massive righthanded defenseman seemed like a younger man who was simply set free of jail when he met with studies earlier than the sport.
“There were some tough days, a lot of adversity, but I think looking back at it now and where I am today, you can only look back and take a positive out of it, helping you grow as a person and as a hockey player,” stated the 25-year-old Peeke, a second-round decide for Columbus in 2016. “I think for me it helped me understand a lot of things in terms of what I’ve got to do on a nightly basis. That’s what I’m most excited about.”
GM Don Sweeney stated Friday that Peeke must get acclimated to the Bruins’ system and coach Jim Montgomery stated he’d get a greater deal with on issues on the B’s observe on Tuesday. But Peeke was blissful to get going.
“I’m pumped, especially coming into an organization like this,” stated the 6-foot-3, 215-pound stay-at-home defenseman. “You’ve only heard good things, from all the way to the top to the guys. That’s what’s most exciting for me. I’m hitting a little reset obviously. Yesterday was crazy and a whirlwind of a day, but I couldn’t be more happy coming to a team like the Bruins, Original Six. It’s just special.”
Peeke stated he bought the low-down on what it’s wish to play in Boston from Sean Kuraly, the previous Bruins who’s now with Columbus.
“I’ve heard about Boston for the past three years with Sean,” stated Peeke, who’ll be carrying Kuraly’s previous No. 52. “He told me it’s an unbelievable spot. The organization speaks for itself and the amount of playoff runs this place has gone through in the past few years and everyone said the guys in the room are unbelievable. That’s what I’m excited about.”…
Morgan Geekie, who has struggled on faceoffs this 12 months, received 8-of-14 on Saturday.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”