NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs Interested in Max Pacioretty but Not Alone

TSN: Darren Dreger on TSN 1050 Radio for the latest on UFA forward Max Pacioretty.

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Aaron Korolnek: “What do you hear about Max Pacioretty? Someone rumored to at least attach to the Toronto Maple Leafs, possibly. What does your mind tell you about that?”

Dreger: “Yeah, you know what, Aaron? We can backtrack a bit here and go back to the Nicky Robertson conversation we had, shall we? You know, it’s about that left side, the left side. (Tyler) Bertuzzi is gone. So there is, there is a place.

You can trust that it is full inside. You would hope that, again, developmentally, that Nick Robertson would sign a contract and slide into a position at least, where he’s competing for a position like that.

But what if he really isn’t there? You know, you have to start watching the league. And, you know, Max Pacioretty is a gamble, right? High character guy, you know, turns, what, 36 in November. So, yes, I mean, his better days are behind him. Played in less than 50 games for the Capitals last year, but had 23 points.

You know, there is, there is give and take. Toronto has a history of bringing in senior players like this. It didn’t really work, but they brought in good players. I think about (Jason) Spezza. I think of Joe Thornton, you know, Patrick Marleau. And then you go down the list of senior players who help shepherd, you know, some of the core of this team, with Matthews being the captain and so on.

But will Max Pacioretty really be okay with limited ice if he can’t fill the role he needs to be able to play?

So I would say it’s still to be decided, but I know the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in bringing them at least through the PTO. No promises, no guarantees, but Pacioretty also has interest from other teams in the National Hockey League. So we’ll have to see how this plays out.”