When the Philadelphia Flyers acquired 35-year-old center Nate Thompson from the Montreal Canadiens at the trade deadline this season. They looked to finally acknowledge the need for an enforcer (one who act as a protector for his fellow players). Seeing that the well-traveled Thompson has long been one of the league’s top fist-to-cuff champs for some years now, the Flyers appeared ready to take on the rigors that are the NHL Playoffs. But this once-great fighter only managed to be in one bout while donning the Flyers jersey. Even so, that one fight was not even Thompson’s choice. Rather, it was forced on him by the Washington Capitals’ Tom Wilson after Thompson delivered a devastating hit to one of Wilson’s teammates.
This sudden lack of intensity in Thompson’s play left a lot to be desired. Sure: Nate did hold down the 4th line center role for most of the season where he exceled in the faceoff dot, and was a great leader in the locker room, but those weren’t the main reasons he was brought to South Philly. With Washington having Tom Wilson and Radko Gudas, the New York Islanders having Matt Martin, and the Montreal Canadiens having Max Domi, Thompson was brought here to be a peacekeeper of sorts meant to ensure his teammates’ safety from these men who can really bring the hurt.
The 35-year -old Thompson was never expected to be the once-great brawler of his youth, but he was expected to answer the bell if/when one of his players needed him to. On multiple occasions this season, Thompson had that opportunity when the opposing team took runs at some of the Flyers’ top players while Thompson was on the ice. Sadly, most of the time, Thompson did no more than go over to the perpetrator after the dirty play and get in his face. At times this post-season when he did this, the opposing player would take offense and square up on him asking Nate the question he had answered yes to so many times before in his career: “DO YOU WANT TO GO?” Only to have Thompson back away from the willing combatant and head back to his bench with his teammate still lying hurt on the ice. This surely left long time Flyers’ fans scratching their heads.
A player that could fill the role next season that Thompson never did would be the 6’3 230-pound forward Patrick Maroon. Maroon, who is now 32, you may remember was originally drafted by the Flyers back in the 6th round of the 2007 NHL Draft. Now, while Patrick has worn many different uniforms over the years as well, he has had a lot more success than Thompson. Maroon recently won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues and is on his way to raising another reaching the Eastern Conference Finals this season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Patrick, as it stands now, has played in 86 playoff games and would surely add a wealth of experience to the Flyers’ lineup. Maroon, who tends to toss his body around, totaled 104 hits on this shortened season and would add some much-needed physicality to the Flyers’ starting lineup. To go along with that, Maroon is not afraid to throw down with anyone. Patrick was even brave (or stupid) enough to take on the Boston Bruins’ 6’9 defenseman Zdeno Chara 4 times throughout his career (two of which were this year). This kind of intensity added to the Flyers’ roster would let opponents know they’re not messing around anymore.
This is not the only side to Maroon’s game though: Patrick achieved a career-best 27 goals just a few seasons ago- proof that his hands are for more than just knocking out an opponent’s teeth.
Flyers’ Head Coach Alain Vigneault would consider himself lucky for sure to have this kind of experience and toughness added to his lineup. AV could feel free to move Patrick up and down the lineup when needed without worry, seeing that he is great defensively and a plus player. Maroon, who had 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points this season, was signed for only $900,000 by the Lightning: A bargain to say the least for a player who excels in so many parts of the game.
Although this signing would not be the big flashy one most fans wait for, it is the one that the Flyers both need and can afford when tasked with working with such little cap space this off season.
