The Toronto Maple Leafs are hoping to turn back the clock on a proven scorer. The team confirmed on Wednesday that they’ve extended a professional tryout (PTO) offer to 35-year-old forward Max Pacioretty. Following a few injury-plagued seasons with three different teams, the expectation is that Pacioretty will sign a one-year contract after training camp, which kicks off next Wednesday.
Toronto is banking on the possibility of reviving Pacioretty’s form, once a consistent 30-goal scorer, despite his recent injury history. Pacioretty has endured two torn Achilles tendons in the past couple of years. He first suffered the injury during the 2022-23 preseason following a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights to the Carolina Hurricanes for salary-cap reasons. After playing just five games that season, he reinjured the Achilles.
He later signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Washington Capitals for the 2023-24 season. Pacioretty went on to play 47 games, posting 25 points, a solid contribution as he worked his way back to health.
During his prime, Pacioretty was a standout captain for the Montreal Canadiens, regularly tallying 30 goals per season and keeping the Habs competitive in the playoffs. However, after the Canadiens’ fortunes declined, Pacioretty was traded to Vegas, though his time there ended before their 2023 Stanley Cup triumph.
Now on a PTO with Toronto, Pacioretty joins Steven Lorentz, a member of the 2024 Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers, in camp. The Maple Leafs, already tight against the salary cap, will need to make roster adjustments if they want to fit Pacioretty into their opening night lineup. General manager Brad Treliving may need to orchestrate a trade or rely on inexpensive talent to manage the cap effectively.
While not all PTOs result in contracts, last season saw forward Noah Gregor earn a one-year deal after a successful tryout. If Pacioretty can regain his form, he could provide valuable depth at left wing, a position where the Leafs currently lack depth.
One of the more unusual aspects of this potential signing will be seeing a former Montreal Canadiens captain don the blue and white of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a rarity in hockey’s most storied rivalry.
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