Veteran winger Max Pacioretty earned a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs this year, and Adam Proteau says the urgency in Pacioretty's game makes him easy to cheer on.
Max Pacioretty celebrates his goal against the New Jersey Devils during the first period alongside Nick RobertsonWhen the Toronto Maple Leafs signed veteran left winger Max Pacioretty to a professional tryout, some observers wondered how much the 35-year-old veteran had left in his competitive tank. But throughout the pre-season and through Toronto’s first two regular-season games, Pacioretty has shown he’s far from finished, posting one goal in just 11:30 of average ice time.
As a fixture on the Leafs’ third line, Pacioretty’s experience and savvy have helped him deliver exactly what Toronto GM Brad Treliving hoped for when he signed Pacioretty to a one-year, $873,770 contract. The Buds don’t need Pacioretty to put the team on his back. Instead, they’re looking for Pacioretty to play a smart game, take advantage of mismatches, and bury goals when the opportunity arises.
In 904 career regular-season games, Pacioretty has been a scoring-chance creator as much as he’s been a scoring-chance finisher, posting 331 goals and 338 assists in that span. He’s not going to reach the 1,000-game plateau this year, but Pacioretty has demonstrated he’s capable of making his line better, and if Leafs coach Craig Berube decides his top two forward lines aren’t getting the job done, Pacioretty can step in and provide solid minutes alongside Toronto’s 'Core Four'.
Things really couldn’t have worked out better for Pacioretty, who has endured several injuries in recent seasons. He’s going to turn 36 in November, but in an odd way, the time he’s spent on the shelf with health woes of late has prolonged his NHL career. Like all NHLers, Pacioretty is determined to go out on his own terms, and while there are many examples of veteran players who’ve come to Toronto only to flame out with career-ending injuries – Doug Gilmour, anyone? – Pacioretty is doing his damndest to prove the doubters wrong.
Pacioretty’s veteran know-how can only help the Leafs – especially their younger players, who have an excellent example to follow in Pacioretty. His time as an effective player in hockey’s best league is running out, but that sense of urgency can be seen every time he plays a shift. Who knows where the time goes, and who knows when the end will arrive for any elite athlete? Not to jinx Pacioretty, but all it takes is one knee-on-knee collision, one slipped skate that sends you awkwardly into the endboards, or one cross-check on a fragile back to put you on the sidelines for good.
You can only control so much on the ice, but that’s why it’s important to strike while you can and make hay while the sun shines. And that’s why it’s so intriguing to watch Pacioretty at the moment. Like all of us, he’s living on borrowed time, and understanding that his next shift could be his last gives Pacioretty all the motivation he needs to make a positive impact for the Leafs.
When Pacioretty opened the scoring on the Leafs’ season in Thursday’s win over New Jersey, you could see how elated his teammates were for him. They know how delicate the balance is for any greybeard player of Pacioretty's pedigree and how it all could end for him in short order. The better he plays, the better the vibe around the Buds.
The Leafs aren’t looking for Pacioretty to challenge Auston Matthews for the league’s goal-scoring title. If he only puts up 20 goals, that will be just fine for Toronto's coaching and management. But the way he’s started this season makes you wonder whether he could get back to the 30-goal plateau for the first time since 2019-20. If you really want to bet against him doing so, you’re probably motivating Pacioretty all the more.
For many veterans who have achieved what Pacioretty has achieved, a pro tryout contract might be seen as an insult. But all Pacioretty has done is graciously accept whatever role he’s been given with Toronto – and as a result, he’s quickly become a fan favorite in another market.
If you cheer on stories of overcoming adversity, you have to cheer for Pacioretty. He’s telling Father Time to kick rocks at the moment and hoping that at this late stage in his playing days, he can finally win a Stanley Cup.
And if he does, hockey fans of all stripes will be thrilled for him.