Don Sweeney and the Boston Bruins always knew they were getting big-bodied winger Pat Maroon at less than 100 percent.

So much so that the Bruins outright refused to put much of a timeline on Maroon, who underwent back surgery in February, and his potential return to game action following his deadline day acquisition from Minnesota. But after skating on his own this past week, a one-day stop in Boston for the Bruins after a week-long trip away from home saw Maroon join his teammates for a legitimate day of on-ice work, and with a timeline officially in sight.

“[Maroon] is making the steps to get closer [to a return],” Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery confirmed following Monday’s session at Warrior Ice Arena. “When he first got here, we said week to week, we knew it was going to be a couple of weeks. Now it really is week to week. And as he hits more of the steps and milestones, it will become day to day.”

“I’ve been out for almost 12 weeks, so I think just getting your conditioning back keep getting up to speed with the group, get some line rushes, [and] get some touches [is key],” said Maroon. “It’s a completely different game when you’re just skating by yourself and then you’re going into battles and, doing those other stuff.”

Montgomery went on to note that the Bruins have legitimate hopes that Maroon, who has not played in a game since Jan. 27, will make even get into action before the end of the regular season. Montgomery also revealed that the club’s Apr. 13 head-to-head with the Penguins, which would be Boston’s 80th game of the 82-game slate, is looking like the “best case scenario” at this point.

Whether or not that’s enough time to get Maroon ramped up for the playoffs is its own question, but it doesn’t seem to be one that’s bothering the Bruins all that much. Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said “we know when he plays his best hockey” when the Bruins first added Maroon, which was an obvious reference to Maroon’s status as a three-time Stanley Cup winner. And it seems to be a belief shared by Montgomery, who touched on that rather tight window to get the 35-year-old Maroon up to speed.

“With 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 offered. “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.”

That said, it’s not the ideal path for all involved.

“I would like to play a couple of games for sure,” Maroon admitted. “I think that’s the end goal is to play a couple games before the playoffs. So, they’ve been really good with me. I can’t thank [the team] enough. The staff here, they’ve been really patient with me and doing all the right things to make sure I’m 100 percent and I’m back to where I finished off. So, they’ve been really good.

“They have a plan for me, and we’re just going to keep sticking with that and progress each day."

Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. He has been covering the Bruins since 2010, and has been a member of the Boston chapter of the PHWA since 2013. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, HockeyBuzz.com or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter/X: @_TyAnderson.

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