Maple Leafs' Max Pacioretty unsure of playing future

Veteran winger Max Pacioretty will become an unrestricted free agent again this summer after completing a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs. Whether he intends to sign another deal remains to be seen. He told reporters today, including Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic, that he isn’t sure if he’ll entertain the idea of an 18th NHL season.

The 36-year-old called this season a “very difficult” one for him due to being away from his family. The Connecticut native still managed to put together a second partial season in a row after undergoing three surgeries on his Achilles tendon in 2022 and 2023.

A training-camp catch-on after inking a tryout with the Leafs, Pacioretty was limited to 13 points in 37 regular-season contests because of various injuries unrelated to his Achilles issues. That didn’t stop him from being one of the most effective producers of the postseason, though. He ranked fourth on the Leafs in playoff scoring despite serving as a scratch for a pair of games in the first round, tallying three goals and five assists for eight points in 11 appearances, including the series-clincher in Game 6 over Ottawa. He did so while averaging just 12:51 per game, the lowest of anybody in the playoffs with multiple games played and at least 0.7 points per game.

Pacioretty, a slam-dunk 30-goal scorer in his prime, will likely get at least a few offers if he’s open to continuing his career. It’s unclear if Toronto would be interested in re-upping him, but it appears the feeling isn’t mutual, even if they did.

He’s still clicking at a 35-point pace per 82 games since resuming his career with the Capitals in 2023-24 following the Achilles tears. He doesn’t have the shooting talent he once did, finishing at just 5.5% over the last two campaigns, but he’s carved out a more physical checking role for himself in a team’s middle six while still managing to contribute some offense.