Pat Maroon Reflects on NHL Journey with Edmonton Oilers

EDMONTON, Alberta – Former NHL forward Pat Maroon recently reminisced about his time playing with the Edmonton Oilers during an interview on a podcast with Tyler Yaremchuk and Liam Horrobin. Maroon spent parts of three seasons with the Oilers and was instrumental in breaking the team’s 11-year playoff drought in 2017.

The Oilers made it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs that year and faced the defending Western Conference champion San Jose Sharks in the first round. Although the Oilers triumphed, they were ultimately eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks in a tough seven-game series.

Maroon recalled a difficult moment in Game 5 of that series where the Oilers were leading 3-0 with just three minutes remaining but ended up losing. “It was a hard loss for us, especially losing Game 7 to Anaheim 2-1,” Maroon said. “That’s the learning that we went through and the team needed it.”

Maroon emphasized the importance of postseason experiences for young talents like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “Those moments that you see, the breakdowns that happen… matured them as players,” he noted.

He expressed admiration for Nugent-Hopkins, calling him a “great teammate” who is beloved in Edmonton. Maroon highlighted Nugent-Hopkins’ commitment to the team, stating, “He’s taken a pay cut… to stay in Edmonton for life,” reinforcing the player’s desire to win a Stanley Cup for the franchise.

Now, after playing 14 seasons in the NHL, Maroon remains hopeful for the Oilers’ current season, saying, “I’m really looking forward to their deep run. I’m hoping they can close it out here.”

The full interview can be watched on the podcast, with Maroon’s segment beginning at the 59-minute mark.