Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours. The Toronto Maple Leafs have seven forwards who need a new contract for next season. Max Pacioretty is one of them. His name can get lost in the shuffle with the star players Toronto needs to re-sign. For instance, Mitch Marner and John Tavares are among those forwards who become UFAs on July 1. Matthew Knies is another player who needs a new contract. He is a pending RFA who played the final year of his entry-level contract.
However, Pacioretty has emerged from the shadows and has shown a desire and interest to return for another season with the Maple Leafs. He’s coming off a one-year contract with Toronto. The veteran earned $873,770 against the salary cap, with an additional $626,230 in bonuses for playing at least 35 regular-season games.
Pacioretty Wants To Come Back
After the Florida Panthers eliminated the Maple Leafs in the second round of the playoffs, Pacioretty had a big decision to make. At the end-of-season media availability, Pacioretty expressed that he was uncertain about his future. He said that he missed being with his family and that it was a challenge being away from them during the season. Nonetheless, after a couple of weeks of consideration, it seems that Pacioretty might be ready for another campaign with Toronto. James Mirtle of The Athletic reported that the veteran forward is interested in returning.
“One piece of good news over the past few days is that UFA Max Pacioretty is leaning toward a return after the Leafs expressed considerable interest in keeping him following a terrific postseason, according to a league source,” Mirtle said. Pacioretty had an excellent postseason campaign for Toronto. He played in all but two playoff games for the Leafs. The 36-year-old went on to play 11 games while recording three goals and eight points. He was the fourth-highest scorer on the team in these past playoffs.
The former Montreal Canadiens captain has been a playoff performer throughout his career. His best campaign was with the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2018-19 season. He scored five goals and 11 points in seven games. Pacioretty recorded another 11-point playoff campaign two seasons later with the Knights again.
Also, he is a physical force on the ice. In the playoffs, he averaged 5.5 hits per game. Among players who have made 11 appearances, Pacioretty leads the league in hits, despite averaging 12:51 of ice time. Even when he’s not putting the puck in the net, his physical trait doesn’t disappear.
The Shape Of His Next Deal
It’s more than likely that if the team and player agree to return, Pacioretty will get a one-year contract again. His age and history of serious injuries make it an uncalculated risk for Toronto to sign him for longer. In terms of dollar value, it could range from the league minimum, which was $775,000 last season, and $1 million AAV. This would be the third-straight year where Pacioretty inks a one-year deal.
As far as his role with the Leafs, it’s expected to be similar to this past campaign. It’s unlikely he’ll play all 82 regular-season contests, but he’ll be a difference-maker when he does feature, especially in the playoffs.
Main Photo Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
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