Max Pacioretty signs PTO with Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed veteran winger Max Pacioretty to a professional tryout agreement, with the opportunity to earn a contract at the end of training camp.

While Pacioretty has proven that he can still be a good player in this league and can bring experience to a Maple Leafs team that is trying to find a way to get over the hump, the biggest hurdle seems to be what Pacioretty will cost if he signs in Toronto. In his one-year deal that he signed with the Washington Capitals last July, the former Michigan Wolverine had a $2 million cap hit, with an AAV of $4 million thanks to $2 million in performance bonuses.

According to CapWages, the Leafs have 44 of a possible 50 contracts signed for this season, but have just a hair over $1.5 million in cap space.

Pacioretty has moved around the NHL over the last couple of seasons, but has had the injury bug follow 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, and missed almost an entire year of game action before returning last season with the Capitals.

The New Canaan, Connecticut native ended up playing 47 games with the Capitals last season, and was a solid veteran presence on a team that just squeaked into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, ultimately getting swept by the President’s Trophy-winning New York Rangers in the first round.

Pacioretty scored four goals and 19 assists during the regular season for Washington, registering an assist in the postseason.

In 16 NHL seasons, which saw him also play 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, amassing 50 points.