After a very long time of hypothesis, it’s official: Max Pacioretty is attending the Toronto Maple Leafs coaching camp on an expert tryout (PTO). The 35-year-old left-winger has six 30-goal seasons below his belt and was the captain of the Montreal Canadiens from 2015-2018.
Max Pacioretty will attend Maple Leafs coaching camp on a Skilled Tryout (PTO) pic.twitter.com/8UgMNOV5Rk
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 11, 2024
The Path for Pacioretty & What He Gives
The explanation why the Maple Leafs are taking an opportunity right here is fairly easy. Whereas younger and intriguing, their left-wing depth leaves a bit to be desired for a contender. Matthew Knies, Easton Cowan, Nicholas Robertson, Bobby McMann, Pontus Holmberg (though listed as a right-wing), and Connor Dewar appear to be the perfect contenders for an opening-night lineup spot—these six have 166 profession NHL factors mixed. Gamers like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander will help flip this inexperience into upside, however the reality of the matter is that there’s some uncertainty right here.
Now, we get to Pacioretty. He has huge management expertise and was once one of many NHL’s higher goal-scorers in his prime. His most up-to-date marketing campaign, with the Washington Capitals, was one in every of analytical ineptitude at even power, however he did present worth to the person benefit. In 47 video games, he scored 4 objectives and 19 assists for 23 factors. He held the second-worst plus/minus score of his profession at a minus-14.
Although most hockey is certainly performed at even power, maybe the thought right here is that Toronto is so good that they’ll mitigate his points. They dominate even-strength play anyway in order that weak spot could be extra trivial than Pacioretty’s expertise each as a pacesetter off the ice and a participant on it. Plus, there’s all the time the prospect that he returns to type—this isn’t a no-upside signing, though it’s laborious to check an epiphany for this veteran the place he reaches 30-goal heights once more.
On the finish of the day, it’s all the time sensible to discover choices. If the Maple Leafs really feel Pacioretty provides one other aspect to their staff, this PTO will flip right into a stint with the Blue and White. Maybe he may assist the younger weapons round him take one other step.
