Controversy in Leafs Nation as Debate Rages over Pacioretty vs Robertson for Game 1

Tuesday, April 15, 2025


The Toronto Maple Leafs have some big lineup decisions ahead of them leading up to Game 1 of their first-round playoff series this coming weekend. Debate is raging in Toronto as to whether the Leafs should activate 36-year-old Max Pacioretty—who hasn't played in over two months—for Game 1 of the postseason ahead of the likes of Nick Robertson. 

Insider Nick Kypreos was adamant about his stance, as he discussed it with Justin Bourne on the Kyper & Bourne Show on Sportsnet:

 

"Are you going to just plop (Pacioretty) in Game 1 where the Ottawa Senators are going 'Boom boom boom', everybody's flying?", asked Kypreos, incredulously. "You're chasing (Jake) Sanderson and (Thomas) Chabot; when I see Nick Robertson playing in both Florida and Tampa Bay (over the past week), that tells me they are ready to put him in Game 1.

“I’m not taking out Nick Robertson to put in Max Pacioretty who’s been off for two months.” 

Kypreos suggested that they should let the series breathe a bit first, let it unfold and feel it out, then "if you want to go a little heavier, then you go to him."

Pacioretty was throwing his 6'2", 217-pound body around with reckless abandon in his 37 games with the Leafs earlier this season, delivering 105 hits, on pace for his largest output in that category—by a long shot—in his 17-year career. 

And some of them were monstrous. 

It's definitely an asset that comes in handy in what should be a physical playoff series, so the idea of putting Pacioretty in there, despite all his time off, is tempting.

But Robertson has been an active, engaged player in recent games, and probably offers more offense, with his 14 goals, than Pacioretty at this point, who has just 12 goals total over the last three years. He lit the lamp five times with the Leafs earlier this season in his 37 games. 

Photo: © Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Go To: NFL Rumors | NBA Rumors | MLB Rumors