The Maple Leafs have brought Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz on board with one-year contracts after their tryouts at training camp, as announced on Monday. They also secured Cade Webber, a restricted free agent defenseman, for two more years, extending his contract until the 2026-27 season. Pacioretty’s deal is a 35+ contract with a cap hit of $873,770 and potential bonuses up to $626,230 if he meets certain performance goals. The total value could reach $1.5 million. Lorentz’s agreement is simpler—a league-minimum one-way deal worth $775K. Webber’s contract has an $825K cap hit and transitions from a two-way to a one-way deal in 2026-27.
Pacioretty, now 35, aims to revive his career in Toronto after Achilles injuries sidelined him for much of the last two seasons. He only managed five games with the Hurricanes in 2022-23 before joining the Capitals last summer. Returning in January post-recovery , his scoring dropped significantly—just four goals in 47 games despite being a former six-time 30-goal scorer with the Canadiens. While top-six minutes might be out of reach in Toronto, if healthy, he could still achieve double-digit goals playing third-line minutes alongside Pontus Holmberg and either Bobby McMann or Nicholas Robertson.
Fans might feel excited about these new additions but wonder if they’ll make a big impact this season.
Lorentz brings valuable experience from winning a Stanley Cup and playing 230 NHL games to Toronto’s fourth line. Last year with the Panthers during their championship run, he played in most playoff games but didn’t score much—just two goals and an assist over that stretch while averaging just over seven minutes per game time-wise. His regular-season stats aren’t flashy either: around seven goals per season on average—but he’s decent at face-offs (winning nearly half) and generally performs well at even strength play metrics-wise.
Webber won’t be debuting immediately; he’s waiver-exempt so will start off assigned to AHL Toronto today as part of roster adjustments needed before opening night when teams can only have up-to-23 players max active roster-wise initially speaking-wise! Despite not making it onto initial rosters though yet still impressively staying till near-end camp cutoffs nonetheless shows promise since signing entry-level deals late last season already having impressed coaches enough already by now! At Boston University previously serving alternate captaincy roles posting six assists across thirty-eight games whilst maintaining plus-fifteen ratings defensively speaking too!
Managing Cap Space:
Pacioretty’s unique cap figure helps Toronto maximize financial flexibility amidst injury challenges heading into this season opener strategically speaking here! According to Kyle Cushman from The Score reports suggest Leafs plan submitting rosters opening-night barely leaving them just dollar spare space-wise pending several moves including sending Easton Cowan back juniors placing Fraser Minten injured reserves due high ankle sprains likewise others like Connor Dewar standard IR placements alongside Jani Hakanpää Calle Järnkrok Dakota Mermis LTIR listings respectively too!
What do you think about these new signings?
