Another important player for the Tampa Bay Lightning has announced his retirement due to this heartbreaking…
Many of the players who were essential to the Lightning’s two Stanley Cup-winning teams have had to say goodbye. The salary cap has made it difficult for elite teams to remain together.
However, it seems that the championship group cannot be kept apart indefinitely.
The players’ love of living in the Tampa Bay area and the bond they shared with their teammates have endured. The majority of the players who left this season to play elsewhere intend to return here in retirement.
Forward Pat Maroon and defenseman Zach Bogosian made their way back to Amalie Arena on Thursday night, but they were wearing different jerseys as Wild players. Maroon won a championship with his hometown St. Louis Blues in 2019 and went on to play for both of those teams that won the Lightning Cup. Bogosian played for the pandemic-era 2020 Cup team, and he spent two full seasons back in Tampa in 2021.
In order to help restock the team’s late-round draft inventory, Maroon was dealt to Minnesota during the offseason as part of a cap-cutting move, and Bogosian was dealt on November 8.
Days after the Amalie Arena crowd gave former Lightning forward Alex Killorn a heartfelt standing ovation and a highlight-filled tribute video during his first game back (as a member of the Ducks) on Saturday night, Maroon and Bogosian were welcomed in a similar manner on Thursday night.
“There was such a good team bond and there’s so many good memories from going on that ride with those guys over the last few years and seeing the sacrifices that guys went through and the injuries we played through and what they did to put themselves on the line,” Maroon remarked on Thursday.
“…Winning the Stanley Cup, the boat parades, so many memories, celebrating with the fans, bringing the Cup around town, all that good stuff, that’s what made that locker room so special and unique.”
Zach Bogosian, a 24 year old defenseman who was once a member of the Lightning, warms up prior to Thursday’s game at Amalie Arena against Tampa Bay.
Zach Bogosian, a 24 year old defenseman who was once a member of the Lightning, warms up prior to Thursday’s game at Amalie Arena against Tampa Bay. [TIMES | DIRK SHADD]
More minutes are now being played on average by Maroon and Bogosian than they were during their last seasons with the Lightning. Like Killorn, they both stated that their moves were only temporary and that they intended to retire to Tampa.
“It’s quite unusual, particularly arriving on Wednesday,” Maroon remarked. Being her was just kind of weird vibes.
