Pacioretty signed a professional tryout with the Maple Leafs before training camp began.
Pacioretty signed a professional tryout with the Maple Leafs before training camp began.
Max Pacioretty has been a part of several rivalry games with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a former captain of the Montreal Canadiens. Although it's pre-season, Pacioretty will take part on the other side for the first time when the Leafs host the Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday.
Pacioretty has explained why he chose to sign his PTO with Toronto despite interest from other clubs. Despite former Canadiens in the past who refused to play for the Maple Leafs after being with Montreal, Pacioretty said that thought never crossed his mind.
"My kids say it's the best jersey that I've worn, how it looks on me in terms of maybe just how it fits me," Pacioretty said. "But no, it's such an honor to wear both the jerseys, two original-six teams, and obviously the history of both the teams. That side of it definitely doesn't feel weird at all. I'm proud of it."
In 2014, Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges blocked a trade from Montreal to Toronto. Instead, the defender was moved to the Buffalo Sabres.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgnhisDXcbE[/embed]
"I just said, 'I'm a heart-and-soul player. It's the only reason I can be good at this level is I have to play and commit with my heart,'" Gorges said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "And after playing against them for that many years of being our No. 1 rival, I just didn't think it would've been fair to them. I wouldn't have been the same player that they would've expected me to be."
Clearly, there were no such reservations for the 35-year-old Pacioretty, who has since played for the Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, and most recently, the Washington Capitals.
Pacioretty made a strong impression in his pre-season debut against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, scoring two goals and adding an assist in a 6-5 overtime loss and is looking to build off his performance. Even though he performed well offensively, Pacioretty is looking to ramp up his play.
"(Just) feeling more comfortable with the puck. I had a lot of opportunities to hang on to pucks last game, especially down low in the offensive zone where I wasn't able to or kind of forced to play," Pacioretty said. "That's my bread and butter is holding on to pucks in the offensive zone and wearing down D-men. That's an area I definitely want to improve on."
Related
News from THN.com
Bruins Defenseman Says Nikita Zadorov's Heavy Hitting Will Boost Team's Physicality
Screen Shots: Bruins GM Speaks Out, Oilers Give Hoffman PTO And Joshua's Health Scare
NHL Free Agency: Grading 10 Teams for Their Off-Season Actions – or Lack Thereof