Report: Maple Leafs Must Trade Someone to Sign Max Pacioretty

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be forced to complete a trade or waive a player to free up salary cap space if they want to transition free-agent signing Max Pacioretty from a tryout deal to a standard contract.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period and Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff , the Leafs are in the process of clearing room to bring Pacioretty onto the roster, with a one-year contract expected once a deal is made and someone gets moved.

"On Max Pacioretty: While #Leafs work through some salary cap issues, there is an expectation from both sides that Pacioretty will be a Maple Leaf this season," Seravalli wrote on X.

Pagnotta was the first to note that Toronto was nearing a professional tryout (PTO) agreement with Pacioretty, and the veteran winger’s signing is likely if the team finalizes a trade.

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

Both insiders reported that the Maple Leafs are confident Pacioretty will join the team, although the organization is working behind the scenes to create the cap flexibility needed to make it happen.

"As a follow-up, I’m told regardless of whether or not Toronto will make a separate trade (which, again, they’re working on a move), the expectation is Max Pacioretty and the Maple Leafs will come to terms on an agreement for this season," Pagnotta added in another post on X .

One potential piece in these trade discussions is forward Nick Robertson. While the 22-year-old recently signed a one-year extension with Toronto, Seravalli indicated that Robertson remains a trade candidate as part of the efforts to open cap space.

"Despite new contract, belief is Nick Robertson is still more likely to be traded than open the season with the #Leafs," Seravalli wrote on X.

Related: Report: Maple Leafs' Forward 'More Likely to Be Traded' Than Staying