Report: Maple Leafs 'Firmly In The Mix' To Sign Max Pacioretty

The Toronto Maple Leafs were rumored to be exploring the market for veteran free-agent forwards and the latest reports seem to point in a particular player's direction: Max Pacioretty.

According to The Leafs Nation insider Nick Alberga , the Leafs are "firmly in the mix" to secure the services of the 35-year-old forward, who is a six-time 30-goal scorer in the NHL.

"Sources confirm the Maple Leafs are among the teams firmly in the mix to sign veteran UFA forward Max Pacioretty," Alberga wrote on X on August 29.

Pacioretty, who has 330 career goals to his name, is coming off a challenging period in his career, having endured two Achilles tears to the same leg over the past three seasons, thus diminishing his value and still being an available unrestricted free agency.

The veteran's injuries have significantly limited his playing time of late, causing Pacioretty to miss half of the 2021-22 season and all but five games of the 2022-23 season.

Despite the setbacks, the Maple Leafs are seemingly not looking at a professional tryout (PTO) for Pacioretty but are instead considering offering him a standard player contract. That would add Pacioretty to the regular-season roster for the full duration of the campaign.

Toronto's interest comes as the Leafs continue to search for secondary scoring options, particularly with the uncertain status of RFA Nick Robertson, who has requested a trade to leave the team.

Insider David Pagnotta of The Four Period confirmed Alberga's report shortly after, adding the Leafs' offer "would be a SPC, not a PTO, if they agree to terms," making it clear the forward would sign a regular, not a tryout-like contract.

"Hearing same re Leafs/Pacioretty. This would be a SPC, not a PTO, if they agree to terms," Pagnotta wrote on X.

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