Insider Reveals Something Surprising About Max Pacioretty's Deal with the Maple Leafs
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Photo credit: Ron Chenoy USA Today Sports
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed on his '32 Thoughts' podcast this week that Max Pacioretty's deal with the Maple Leafs was actually a long-time coming.
Over just the last couple of weeks, things between the Leafs and Max Pacioretty became public. However, Friedman reported on Friday's edition of '32 Thoughts' that the two sides had been in contact for weeks prior as they facilitated a deal.
"I took my wife and son to see "Pink" this summer at the Rogers Centre and we walked into Pacioretty on the street. I said hi to him and he kind of gave me the 'oh I'm here visiting some friends' and I really didn't think much of it cause I was with my family. That one smacked me right in my face and I totally missed it that, obviously, he was here skating and working out for the Leafs at that time."
Clearly Pacioretty was the Leafs' top target to strengthen the left side of their forward group despite rumours of a potential James van Riemsdyk reunion.
Pacioretty is expected to transition from a PTO to a standard player contract prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, but what his role with the team will be is still very much up in the air. It is believed that the Leafs are working on a trade to open up some cap space, so once a deal is complete, we should have a better idea of where Pacioretty will fit in.
There is a lot of competition for limited roster spots and with the veteran winger approaching 36 years of age, it wouldn't surprise anyone to see him in a bottom-6 role as opposed to a top-6 role. However, there's no denying that Pacioretty can put the puck in the net, so seeing him in the top-6 to start the year wouldn't be a huge surprise either. Very interesting situation, this one.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 14 | 1004 ANSWERS Insider Reveals Something Surprising About Max Pacioretty's Deal with the Maple Leafs How many games will Max Pacioretty play this season? | ||
| 1-10 | 108 | 10.8 % |
| 11-30 | 230 | 22.9 % |
| 31-50 | 433 | 43.1 % |
| More than 50 | 233 | 23.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
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