Max Pacioretty

Photo credit: USA Today Sports

Maple Leafs PTO invitee Max Pacioretty revealed on Thursday that his kids prefer him in a Maple Leafs jersey, as opposed to the Canadiens jersey he wore most of his career.

Pacioretty, the former captain of the Montreal Canadiens, signed a PTO with the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this offseason. He has quickly acclimated himself with how the team operates during preseason, demonstrating early that he remains a capable NHL player and fills a much-needed hole in the Leafs’ depth chart.

Max Pacioretty's first Maple Leafs game shows he has passion | Toronto Sun

Pacioretty has already made an impact for the Maple Leafs, scoring 2 goals and 3 points in their preseason opener against the Ottawa Senators. If he can continue to make a difference for this team offensively in the middle six, a standard player contract is as close to a guarantee as you’ll find, even if it forces Brad Treliving to make a trade to open up a roster spot.

In a recent interview, Pacioretty shared his thoughts on wearing the Maple Leafs crest and even revealed that his kids prefer him in the blue and white to any colours he has worn in the past, as reported by Dave McCarthy on X:
”It’s an honour to wear [a Leafs jersey]. I don’t see why I would feel otherwise. My kids say it’s the best jersey I’ve worn, how it looks on me in terms of maybe just how it fits me. But it’s such an honour to wear both (Leafs and Canadiens) jerseys.”
 

 

While Pacioretty may not be the player he once was during his time as captain of the Canadiens, he proved an effective addition last season with the Washington Capitals, tallying 23 points in 47 games. This performance shows that he still has the talent to contribute at a high level, even after missing so much time in previous seasons.

If Pacioretty secures a spot on the Maple Leafs’ roster, he will have the chance to showcase his offensive skills alongside remarkable talents, namely fellow veteran John Tavares, with whom he has been tethered to in the pre-season thus far.

Pacioretty has been recognized as one of the best players on the ice during pre-season so far, a sentiment delivered by head coach Craig Berube. Hopefully, that means he’s here to stay this season.