Maple Leafs sign Max Pacioretty, Steven Lorentz to one-year contracts

On Monday, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced new contracts for three players.

Most notably, the team signed forward Max Pacioretty to a one-year deal, which will carry a cap hit of $873,770 through the 2024-25 season.

Steven Lorentz has also been signed to a one-year contract with a cap hit of $775,000. The Leafs also signed defenseman Cade Webber to a two-year contract extension, which will keep him around through the 2026-27 season on an AAV of $825,000 at the NHL level.

Both Pacioretty and Lorentz came to training camp in Toronto on professional tryouts. However, it was widely speculated that Pacioretty was on a clear path to joining the Leafs on a one-year deal.

The former Michigan Wolverine’s contract also includes performance bonuses that could cost Toronto over $600,000 on next year’s cap. According to Daily Faceoff insider Frank Seravalli, Pacioretty will receive a $313,115 bonus if he plays 10 games and another $313,115 if he plays 35.

Pacioretty has moved around the NHL over the last couple of seasons, but the injury bug followed him around during his time with the Carolina Hurricanes. A couple of severe injuries to his Achilles tendon led to him playing just five games with the Hurricanes during the 2022-23 season. He missed almost an entire year of game action before returning last season with the Washington Capitals.

In 16 NHL seasons, during which he also played for the Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights, Pacioretty has scored 330 goals and 668 points in 902 regular-season games. He has also appeared in 78 playoff games, mostly with the Habs and Golden Knights, and has amassed 50 points.

Lorentz had a very impressive preseason for the Leafs, just a few months after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, the 28-year-old from Kitchener returned to Ontario looking for a new opportunity.

He played just one game with the Panthers during the regular season but 16 games during the playoffs, including four of the seven games during the Final against the Edmonton Oilers. Lorentz notched two goals and an assist in the postseason.

In 230 games, including stops with the Hurricanes and San Jose Sharks, Lorentz has scored 21 goals and 22 assists, including six points in 32 playoff appearances.

Webber is heading into the second year of his entry-level contract that he signed with Toronto last April. The Leafs acquired the 23-year-old via trade with Carolina prior to last season’s deadline. Webber has yet to play a professional game as he finished up his three-year career at Boston University last spring with the team losing to Denver in the NCAA National Semifinals.

According to Chris Johnston of The Athletic, Webber’s contract will be a two-way deal in 2025-26, and a one-way contract in 2026-27.

The Maple Leafs open their 2024-25 season on Wednesday night against the Canadiens.