The Maple Leafs have signed Max Pacioretty to a professional tryout.
This news isn’t surprising. David Pagnotta mentioned in August that the Leafs were talking to Pacioretty, and Darren Dreger said on Tuesday that signing him was a top priority after dealing with Nicholas Robertson’s contract issues. Many thought Pacioretty would get a guaranteed contract, but Toronto’s tight salary cap means it might take until training camp to finalize things. Chris Johnston and Allan Walsh agree that a deal is likely in place once the Leafs have more financial room.
Pacioretty, who turns 36 soon, aims for a spot in the Leafs’ top nine as an experienced depth scorer with 902 NHL games under his belt. Last season, he only scored four goals in 47 games after two Achilles injuries. But he’s known for bouncing back from serious injuries; remember when he won the Masterton Trophy in 2012 after fracturing his C4 vertebrae and suffering a Grade 2 concussion? Despite aging, there’s hope he’ll score double-digit goals if he stays healthy. His shooting percentage last season was just 4.2%, quite low for someone who usually scores over 11%.
Pacioretty’s Contract Details:
Since he’s older, Pacioretty can sign a bonus-laden contract that keeps his initial cap hit low—probably around $775K—but lets him earn more if he stays healthy and plays well . Any bonuses Toronto can’t fit under this year’s cap will count against next year’s budget as penalties.
Fans might think this move shows how much faith the team has in his comeback potential.
If Robertson gets traded before the season starts, Pacioretty could compete with Bobby McMann for left-wing duties on the second line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. Otherwise, one of them will play third-line minutes instead.
Over his career, Pacioretty has scored 330 goals and tallied 668 points across 16 years, averaging about 30 goals per season when healthy. Though he’s played just 91 games over the past three seasons due to injuries, a healthy year might see him scoring around 15 goals and earning about 30 points.
What do you think about this signing?
