Bertuzzi and Teravainen will turn the Blackhawks biggest weaknesses into strengths

Let’s not forget about the value Pat Maroon brings

If there was one player I was ultra-excited to see join the Blackhawks, it was veteran Pat Maroon. No, he won’t be in the Windy City long, but this new Blackhawks team, whether they’re the youngsters or seasoned veterans, will learn a lot about what it takes to ultimately win a championship with Maroon in town. 

Throughout his career, Pat Maroon has won not one, not two, but three Stanley Cups, and he’s someone who will also be willing to take a back seat at this point in his career. Maroon should be nothing more than a fourth-liner or even on some nights, an extra forward, but wow, talk about someone who will bring a lot of edge, experience, and insight into the lineup. 

Maroon will be a big hitter on that fourth line, and it’s something the Blackhawks can use more of, even if they logged a respectable 22.8 hits per game last season. Adding Bertuzzi helps them out in that regard, but Maroon will take them to another level here, and it’s something we saw in the playoffs last season when he landed 31 body checks in 13 contests. 

But veteran leadership is key here, and it was something I wanted to see the Blackhawks target this offseason. I wasn’t sure if it would be Pat Maroon, but I’m glad to see Kyle Davidson managed to bring the veteran to town, and it will be fun to see him help guide Connor Bedard and company to new heights. 

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