The Tampa Bay Lightning have reportedly re-signed forward Pat Maroon and defenseman Luke Schenn. Maroon and Schenn were both additions the Lightning made last summer for the 2019-20 season and both contributed on the way to the Lightning winning a Stanley Cup.
Hearing Pat Maroon (2 x $900k) and Luke Schenn (1 x $800k) have both agreed to terms to return to #GoBolts
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 9, 2020
Pat Maroon’s contract is for two years with a $900,000 salary cap hit. It’s the same cap hit as 2019-20, but gives him a couple years of security staying in Tampa Bay. In 64 games, playing on the fourth line and second power play, Maroon contributed nine goals and 23 points. He added a goal and six points in 25 playoff games. Maroon brought a certain attitude and edge to the bottom of the Lightning’s roster along with a chirping vocabulary to match.
Maroon was also the only player in the Lightning’s locker room that already had a Stanley Cup ring. Under Steve Yzerman, almost every season, the Lightning had at least one such player. But they did not have a champion in the room since moving Valtteri Filppula at the 2017 trade deadline. While not a huge offensive contributor, and he sometimes had his struggles, Maroon certainly brought leadership to the locker room and a never quit attitude.
Luke Schenn was a depth signing for the Lightning in the summer of 2019. At the time, he was expected to be the seventh defenseman on the roster after a good late season run with the Vancouver Canucks in 2018-19. Schenn was signed for one year at $700,000, the NHL minimum. For his new contract, he gets another one-year deal, but a slight raise to $800,000. Schenn was relegated to being the eighth defensemen though when the Lightning were able to sign Kevin Shattenkirk after Shattenkirk was bought out by the New York Rangers.
In 25 regular season games, Schenn contributed a goal and three assists. In 11 playoff games, including game one of the Stanley Cup Final, he contributed two assists. Schenn is not an offensive defenseman and never has been in his career. He is a stout defender though that likes physical play. He’s good in front of the net at clearing out players and will continue to provide good depth for the Lightning on the right side of the blue line.
