Winning the Stanley Cup is hard. That is, unless you're Pat Maroon.
The 34-year-old fourth line grinder for the Lightning has refused to lose the last few seasons. As Tampa Bay and Colorado get set to square off in the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, Maroon has a chance to win his fourth consecutive Stanley Cup.
That's right. Maroon has lifted the Cup in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and has a chance to do so again in 2022. The last time he lost a playoff series was in 2018 when he was a member of the Devils, who ironically lost to the Lightning in the first round.
No player has won four Cups in a row, with either one team or multiple teams, in nearly 40 years. The last time it happened was in1983 when the Islanders completed the four-peat, with multiple players on each of those Cup-winning teams.
Here is a look at Maroon's history in Stanley Cup Finals and who he could be joining in the NHL record books.
SCF PREVIEW:Avalanche vs. Lightning
How many Cups has Patrick Maroon won?
Maroon already has three Cups to his name.
2019 Blues
He lifted the Cup for the first time in 2019 when he was playing for his hometown Blues. St. Louis squared off against Boston in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, taking the Bruins to seven games. The Blues scored two goals in the first period of Game 7, eventually going on to win 4-1 and earning the franchise its first Stanley Cup.
2020 Lightning
After finishing out his one-year contract with St. Louis, Maroon signed a one-year deal to go to Tampa Bay, who were looking to add more sandpaper to their lineup after getting upset in the first round by the Blue Jackets that season. The move paid off, as Maroon lifted the Cup for a second time when the Lightning defeated the Stars in six games.
2021 Lightning
Lightning GM Julien BriseBois re-signed Maroon in the offseason to a two-year deal, keeping him in Florida for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. The "Big Rig" came through again, as he helped the Lightning to the club's second consecutive Stanley Cup win last season.
Now, he has a chance to be a part of his fourth championship-winning team if Tampa Bay can take down Colorado.
Patrick Maroon Stanley Cup Final stats
| GP | G | A | PTS | + / - | PIM | Hits |
| 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -5 | 30 | 25 |
Maroon is by no means an offensive dynamo. His roleis a guy that finishes every check and is hard on the forecheck. And of course, on occasion, ruffle some feathers.
In 18 career Stanley Cup Final games, Maroon has three points, with two assists and a goal. Both of his assists came in the 2020 Final against the Stars and his lone goal came last season against the Canadiens in Game 4.
SCF SCHEDULE:Dates, times, TV channels for Avalanche-Lightning
NHL players to win four Stanley Cups in a row
If Maroon were to win a fourth Stanley Cup in a row, he would join a list of some of the NHL's greats.
There have been 44 players to win at least four Cups in a row. A majority of those players belong to the Canadiens and Islanders dynasties that each won four consecutive titles.
Here is a look at all the players to have won exactly four Stanley Cups in a row, (does not include those who won more than four in a row).
| PLAYER | TEAM | CUPS WON IN A ROW | TOTAL CUPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Gerard | Ottawa Senators/Toronto St. Patricks | 4 (1920, 1921, 1922, 1923) | 4 |
| Phil Goyette | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 4 |
| Andre Pronovost | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 4 |
| Ab McDonald | Montreal Canadiens/Chicago Blackhawks | 4 (1958, 1959, 1960, 1961) | 4 |
| Ed Litzenberger | Chicago Blackhawks/Toronto Maple Leafs | 4 (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964) | 4 |
| Yvan Cournoyer | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 10 |
| Jacques Lemaire | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 8 |
| Serge Savard | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 8 |
| Guy Lapointe | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 6 |
| Guy Lafleur | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 5 |
| Larry Robinson | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 6 |
| Steve Shutt | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 5 |
| Rick Chartraw | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 4 |
| Bob Gainey | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 5 |
| Doug Jarvis | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 4 |
| Yvon Lambert | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 4 |
| Doug Risebrough | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 4 |
| Mario Tremblay | Montreal Canadiens | 4 (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979) | 5 |
| Mike Bossy | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Bob Bourne | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Clarke Gillies | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Butch Goring | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Anders Kallur | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Gord Lane | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Dave Langevin | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Wayne Merrick | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Ken Morrow | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Bob Nystrom | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Stefan Persson | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Denis Potvin | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Duane Sutter | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| John Tonelli | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 4 |
| Bryan Trottier | New York Islanders | 4 (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983) | 6 |
NHL players to win five Stanley Cups in a row
The most Stanley Cups a player has won in a row is five and there are 11 players that are on that list.
All 11 were members of the Canadiens dynasty of the 1950s. Montreal became the first and only NHL team to win five Cups in a row, being crowned champions in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960.
Here is a look at those players who won five Stanley Cups in a row.
| PLAYER | TEAM | CUPS WON IN A ROW | TOTAL CUPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henri Richard | Montreal Canadiens | 5 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 11 |
| Jean Beliveau | Montreal Canadiens | 5 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 10 |
| Claude Provost | Montreal Canadiens | 5 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 9 |
| Maurice Richard | Montreal Canadiens | 5 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 8 |
| Jean-Guy Talbot | Montreal Canadiens | 5 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 7 |
| Bernie Geoffrion | Montreal Canadiens | 5 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 6 |
| Doug Harvey | Montreal Canadiens | 5 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 6 |
| Tom Johnson | Montreal Canadiens | 5 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 6 |
| Dickie Moore | Montreal Canadiens | 5 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 6 |
| Donnie Marshall | Montreal Canadiens | 5 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 6 |
| Bob Turner | Montreal Canadiens | 5 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960) | 6 |
As a passionate hockey enthusiast with a deep understanding of the sport, particularly the NHL and its history, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge to shed light on the remarkable career of Pat Maroon and the historical context surrounding his pursuit of a fourth consecutive Stanley Cup victory. My expertise is grounded in an extensive familiarity with players, teams, and milestones, allowing me to navigate through the intricacies of the topic at hand.
Pat Maroon, a tenacious 34-year-old fourth-line grinder for the Tampa Bay Lightning, stands on the brink of making history by potentially winning his fourth consecutive Stanley Cup. This accomplishment is a testament to Maroon's resilience and his significant contributions to the Lightning's success in recent seasons.
Maroon's journey began with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 when he lifted the Cup for the first time, securing a historic victory for his hometown team. Subsequently, in 2020, he joined the Tampa Bay Lightning, helping them overcome the Dallas Stars to claim his second consecutive championship. In the 2020-21 season, Maroon remained a crucial part of the Lightning's roster, contributing to their back-to-back triumphs.
Analyzing Maroon's performance in the Stanley Cup Finals, it becomes evident that his impact extends beyond offensive prowess. As a physical presence on the ice, Maroon excels in finishing checks, being hard on the forecheck, and occasionally adding an element of agitation to the game. His statistics in the Stanley Cup Finals reflect a player who embraces his role, with 18 games played, three points (one goal and two assists), a plus-minus rating of -5, 30 penalty minutes, and 25 hits.
What sets Maroon apart is his opportunity to join a select group of NHL legends who have won four Stanley Cups in a row. The last time such a feat occurred was in 1983 when the New York Islanders completed a four-peat. A comprehensive list of players achieving this remarkable accomplishment includes Eddie Gerard, Phil Goyette, Yvan Cournoyer, Mike Bossy, and many others. Maroon's potential fourth consecutive victory would place him in an exclusive category, showcasing his name alongside some of the greatest players in NHL history.
Additionally, the article delves into players who have won five Stanley Cups in a row, a feat accomplished solely by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1950s. Notable names on this list include Henri Richard, Jean Beliveau, and Maurice Richard, further emphasizing the rarity and prestige associated with such achievements.
In conclusion, Pat Maroon's pursuit of a fourth consecutive Stanley Cup is not only a testament to his individual resilience and skill but also an opportunity to etch his name in the annals of NHL history alongside some of the sport's most iconic figures.
