Insider Reports on Impending Maple Leafs Announcement on Max Pacioretty

The only thing that veteran forward Max Pacioretty could have done on his PTO with the Toronto Maple Leafs to preclude him from getting a full contract was completely bomb during the preseason. That didn't happen, as he recorded two goals and three assists going into Saturday's exhibition finale.

We're now hearing, according to insider Nick Alberga, that an announcement should be coming on Sunday that Pacioretty will indeed have himself a one-year contract for the 2024-25 season.

As expected, Max Pacioretty will be signing a one year deal with the Maple Leafs.

Source tells me it should get done on Sunday.
— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) October 5, 2024

Pacioretty is skating on the Leafs' third line in the preseason finale on Saturday night, alongside Bobby McMann and Pontus Holmberg.

With 330 goals in his 16-year NHL career, if there's one thing Pacioretty knows how to do, it's find the net. But the last three seasons have been a near complete write-off, as he struggled to come back from not one, but two Achilles tears.

Last year with the Washington Capitals, he played 47 games but only managed to scratch out four goals and 23 points in 14:26 of ice time a night. He was still working on returning to full health, after playing just five games the previous year with the Vegas Golden Knights, and just 39 the season before that.

Now, though, he'll be turning 36 next month, and he'll be among the Leafs' top-nine forwards on opening night next Wednesday. He's excited to be part of this group.

“This is the hardest group I’ve ever been a part of.”

Max Pacioretty on the make-up of the 2024-25 Maple Leafs. pic.twitter.com/mhyIkOFPae
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 5, 2024