Former NHL All-Star Lands Tryout with Maple Leafs

It's training camp season around the NHL, meaning it's the norm to see professional tryouts (PTOs) offered to free-agent veterans. While PTO deals don't always result in official contracts, they're useful for players to demonstrate that they still have something left in the tank.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one team that already handed out a tryout contract, having brought in former 2015 seventh-rounder Steven Lorentz on a PTO last week. It turns out that general manager Brad Treliving isn't done bringing in reinforcements.

"Sounding like the Maple Leafs and UFA left wing Max Pacioretty are moving towards a PTO," NHL insider David Pagnotta reported Tuesday morning. "If all goes well, and Toronto creates cap space (which they are working on via trade), a 1-year contract should follow."

The latest development comes a week after The Nation Network's Nick Alberga reported that the Maple Leafs were "firmly in the mix" to sign Pacioretty . Unfortunately, Toronto only having about $400,000 in cap space means that they were only able to offer a PTO to the 35-year-old for the time being.

The Maple Leafs boast plenty of star power in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander, however, the bottom half of their forward group could use a boost. That's likely where GM Treliving is expecting Pacioretty to help.

Pacioretty is a 16-year NHL veteran and former All-Star who's played 902 regular-season games across four franchises. He's racked up 330 goals and 338 assists along the way while also registering 50 points in 78 postseason contests.

Toronto fans are also more than familiar with Pacioretty after he spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the rival Montreal Canadiens. Nevertheless, the former Michigan Wolverine's off-ice leadership and never-say-day in-game attitude have made him a fan favorite wherever he's gone.

Pacioretty most recently spent the 2023-24 season with the Washington Capitals, tallying 23 points in 47 games. While that's far from his best performance, it's clear that the veteran winger still has enough gas left to provide the Maple Leafs' bottom-six forward group with a boost.