Report: Maple Leafs’ Max Pacioretty Out With “Extensive” Injury

It was a dominant performance by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, dismantling the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 in swift and easy fashion. But it came at the expense of a troubling injury to Max Pacioretty.

The veteran was in pain and was grabbing his hamstring after being tripped up and going down awkwardly. He hobbled to the bench and needed help from teammates to get to the locker room after the first period.

"That obviously doesn't look good at all."@kbieksa3 breaks down Pacioretty's potential injury. pic.twitter.com/onsKn3qHX9
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 10, 2024

We've now learned, courtesy of hockey insider Darren Dreger on TSN's First Up, that the injury is "extensive" and Pacioretty will be out for an extended period.

🚨 BREAKING: The injury to Max Pacioretty is extensive and will keep him out for “a while.”

— @DarrenDreger / @FirstUp1050 #leafsforever pic.twitter.com/EvrDsrl5JD
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) November 11, 2024

"Sad for Pacioretty, it's extensive," Dreger said. "He was in considerable pain. The specific messaging that I got is that Max is going to be out for a while."

The Leafs followed up Monday morning by placing him on injured reserve, and calling him "week to week". David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period says it's a pulled hamstring.

Good news on Pacioretty front, all things considered. Pulled hamstring will take a few weeks compared to anything torn, which could result in sitting for the season. https://t.co/xNJnXSfxaa
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) November 11, 2024

The 17-year veteran has been a nice surprise for the Leafs thus far (despite a couple of healthy scratches), with six points in 13 games and a plus/minus rating of +4. He had formed a nice spot for himself recently on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander.

Pacioretty's unfortunate injury does open up a lineup spot, which comes at a time that Leafs are expecting the return of fourth-liner Connor Dewar, and captain Auston Matthews, who has missed the last three games with an upper-body injury. Incidentally, the Leafs have picked it up in Matthews' absence, going 3-0 and outscoring their opponents by 11-2.