Pacioretty should start the playoffs with Tavares and Nylander: Alberga’s Take

He hasn’t played since February 8^th, but make no mistake about it, Max Pacioretty will be in the mix for the Toronto Maple Leafs once they kick off the Stanley Cup Playoffs in roughly 10 short days from now.

From what I’ve been told, initially, it was back spasms that negated the veteran from returning to game action with his teammates following the 4 Nations Face-Off break. It’s been a while since then, so suffice to say, the former Canadiens captain is feeling much better. His presence at recent practices supports that notion, too.

At this point, this is more about the salary cap. Simply put, the Leafs don’t have the cap space to activate the 36-year-old winger.

And, in the grand scheme of things, that’s totally fine. After all, Pacioretty was brought in to help provide a potential boost in the postseason.

From my perspective, it’s fair to be concerned about rust. It’s been two months and a few days since Pacioretty last played a game. Practising a ton is great, but unfortunately, it doesn’t simulate live game action. Indisputably, that will be a factor that Craig Berube and the coaching staff must way when deciphering where to deploy Pacioretty.

If it were up to me, though, I know where I’m playing him —at least to start. Two weeks ago, it looked like Bobby McMann had found a long-term home with John Tavares and William Nylander. Now, not so much. In fact, on Wednesday night in Tampa, McMann skated on the third line, and it was Calle Jarnkrok flanking the big boys on line two.

Enter Max Pacioretty.

For starters, earlier this season, the Pacioretty-Tavares-Nylander combo displayed some serious chemistry for a handful of games. Because of their experience and style of play, it makes sense why that trio found some semblance of success.

Most importantly, in a perfect world, having McMann on your third line is a good idea tactically. If the Leafs are going to do anything this spring, they will need some offensive contributions from their bottom-six. That almost goes without saying.

Furthermore, I’ve been consistent in saying all season long that it makes more sense utilizing Pacioretty in an offensive role with skilled players. Even at his age, he can still finish and make plays. On top of that, he’s added a physical dimension this season, which is something that Toronto can never possess enough of.

Long-term, who knows if Pacioretty sticks in the top six. That said, there’s no point in bringing him in if you’re not going to deploy him appropriately. Long story short, he deserves a shot with Tavares and Nylander. If it works, great, if not, there’s a plethora of others – including McMann – whom you can promote up the lineup.

The postseason is all about adjustments.