Pacioretty competed in four preseason games as part of his professional tryout with the club.
Pacioretty competed in four preseason games as part of his professional tryout with the club.
Max Pacioretty has seen a lot during his 16-season NHL career, but as he enters his 17th year, now with the Toronto Maple Leafs, one thing stands out: the team’s work ethic. After competing in four preseason games during his professional tryout, Pacioretty couldn’t help but praise the dedication he’s seen – especially from the club’s star players.
“There's a reason why they have success,” Pacioretty shared ahead of the Leafs’ final preseason game on Saturday. “This is the hardest group I've ever been a part of. I've seen it, saw it from day one. These top guys – it's not a fluke why they're the top guys. They put in the work. They take care of themselves. I saw it within two minutes of being here. But you see it every day, every morning, and it's really nice to be around.”
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7_tPM_7EL4[/embed]
When asked what sets this group apart, Pacioretty didn’t hesitate to highlight the habits of the Leafs’ 'Core Four’ in training camp.
“Yesterday morning, I think I saw Auston and Willy go out maybe 30 minutes early and put out a bag of pucks and work on their edges they're shooting,” Pacioretty explained. “But, I mean, like, full speed, like one hundred percent. Johnny T (Tavares), just every day in the gym, same thing, taking care of himself. Extra workouts. It's no, there's only one, it makes you realize there's only one way to do it to be the best, and that's working hard.”
With five points (2G, 3A) in four preseason games – including a three-point performance in the opener and two assists in Detroit on October 3 – Pacioretty’s impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. But clearly, what’s impressed him the most is what’s happening behind the scenes. After spending 10 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, he’s had plenty of battles against Toronto, but the team has changed over that period, and he’s faced the core of this group numerous times since the 2018 season.
“(It’s) very contagious. When you teach young guys that this is the only way to have success, it's definitely contagious,” said Pacioretty. “Like I said, I've seen it before both ways. I've never seen it on this level. And it's really nice to see.”
“You talk about young guys, guys like (Matthew) Kniesy coming in and kind of shadowing those guys. It's not a secret why those guys, like I keep saying, have had success. If these guys want to look up to them, these young guys, and want to be as good as them, then there's only one way to do it.”
Entering training camp on a professional tryout (PTO), the 35-year-old was “excited” to prove himself – and he did just that. With the Leafs needing to get under the $88 million salary cap by 5 p.m. on Monday, October 7, they’ll have some tough decisions to make. It’s expected the team will create space for Pacioretty and fellow PTO Steven Lorentz with one-year deals.
The Leafs have the option to exercise the long-term injured reserve or explore trades, but regardless of the strategy, they can only carry a maximum of 23 players when the deadline arrives.
More clarity is expected Monday, just ahead of the club’s 2024-25 regular season opener on October 9 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
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