Leafs Open Up Salary and Roster Spot With Creative Transaction to Welcome Back Max Pacioretty

The Toronto Maple Leafs used a creative transaction on Saturday to open up some salary and a roster spot to be able to welcome back Max Pacioretty.

Long-time NHL insider Bob McKenzie mentioned on few Friday the possible return timeline for several members of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It seems that one of them is available right on queue in Max Pacioretty, who was activated from the LTIR.

To accommodate the move, the Maple Leafs placed defenseman Jake McCabe on the IR with an upper body injury -- a move that is retroactive to November 30th, which should allow McCabe to return as expected this week, if all goes according to plan.

McCabe was forced out with an injury last week when he was struck in the head/neck area by a puck. He returned to practice but the Maple Leafs presumably played it safe and kept him out of the lineup to avoid further injury when McCabe himself confirmed he wasn't feeling quite right.

McKenzie mentioned that McCabe should be back ahead of Tuesday's game against New Jersey, so this is essentially just a paper transaction to open up a roster spot for Pacioretty.

As for Pacioretty, he's been out of the lineup for over 3 weeks after he was forced out of a game against the Montreal Canadiens with a lower body injury.

The veteran is expected to slide onto the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander as well as the second power play unit with Fraser Minten, Nicholas Robertson, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Morgan Rielly.

In 13 games this season, Pacioretty has 2 goals and 6 points, a plus-4 rating, and has averaged 12:11 TOI. McCabe on the other hand has 5 assists in 23 games, a plus-11 rating, and 21:20 ATOI and will be welcomed back with open arms.

Max Pacioretty's Huge Hit on Jack Hughes Draws Passionate Reaction From Craig Berube

Sheldon Keefe's Players in New Jersey Exhibiting Same Mistakes as His Former Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Critical of His Team's Effort Following OT Win Over Devils

Maple Leafs Officially Place Alex Nylander and a Defenseman on Waivers

Auston Matthews Rubs Salt in the Wounds, Celebrates OT Winner in Face of Ex-Devils Defender

Maple Leafs Prospect Earns Tremendous Opportunity After Hot Start in 2024-25 Season

Sheldon Keefe Makes Unexpected Comment About Maple Leafs Goalies Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll

Leafs' Matthew Knies Potentially Facing Supplemental Discipline for Dangerous Hit on Kovacevic

The NHL Appears to Have Reached a Verdict on the Tyler Bertuzzi/Blackhawks UFA Tampering Case

Maple Leafs Utterly Embarrassed in First Period Vs. Devils; Now Own Unfortunate Season Record