Major update on Pat Maroon from the Bruins today

Pat Maroon has been a member of the Boston Bruins for three weeks now, but he's still waiting for his shot to make a first impression.

Maroon, of course, was acquired by Bruins general manager Don Sweeney on the NHL's March 8th Trade Deadline but has been rehabilitating from back surgery since early February. Now though, it sounds like Maroon is close to making his Bruins debut.

The big man skated with the team today after several practices on his own the past few weeks.

“I kind of felt lonely skating by myself,” Maroon recalled. “Feels good to be back with the guys, do some battle drills, and kind of get back up to speed with those guys. I’m certainly excited to feel a part of it. Excited to be back."

The Bruins welcomed their new teammate into the fold and tasked him with leading the team stretch this morning.

“I’m close. So it’s a good sign when you’re practicing with the team,” Maroon said to reporters after practice.

Head coach Jim Montgomery wouldn't commit to a timeline for Maroon's debut in the lineup, but intimated that things are getting close.

“He is making the steps to get closer,” Montgomery said. “You know when he first got here, we said week to week, and we knew it was going to be a couple of weeks. Now we really know that it is week to week. And as he gets more of the steps and milestones, it will become day-to-day.”

“I can’t say definitively yes, but it’s looking that way.”

Montgomery had Maroon skating on the Bruins' second line alongside Pavel Zacha and Danton Heinen during practice today, but likely only because the line's usual winger, David Pastrnak, was taking the day off (maintenance).

Maroon's role will be more as a depth player who can provide some grit for the playoffs, said Montgomery.

“You know, guys that are veteran players that have played a lot of playoff games that know how to win, you would like them to have games. But it’s not necessary,” Montgomery said about the pros and cons of Maroon returning before the postseason. “They know what it takes to win. They know their role; they relish their role; they understand how to manage games, and it’s a big reason why we picked him up.”