Max Pacioretty's Playstyle Proving to be a Perfect Fit: Expectations Have Been Blown Out of the Water
Max Pacioretty was signed to add scoring depth and another veteran to a team hoping for a playoff push, but his underlying numbers show he's added much more value.
A lot of criticism came towards GM Brad Treliving for his pursuit of Max Pacioretty, as fans wondered why Toronto would add a veteran seemingly past his prime and coming off of two serious Achilles injuries.
But so far, Pacioretty has been solid for the Maple Leafs, and while he hasn't added a bunch of scoring, he's been a very key contributor to the Maple Leafs' best line and does so much more than meets the eye.
Max Pacioretty Likes To Throw Around His Weight
A lot of people tend to forget that Max Pacioretty is a big guy. At 6'2, 217 pounds, it's pretty scary to see him flying towards you, and you'd be forgiven for thinking he won't lay into you with a big hit.
But you'd be mistaken. Going into Saturday's game against Montreal, Pacioretty leads the team with 38 hits, a startingly high number for a supposed third-line scoring option. At this rate, Pacioretty will eclipse his career high for hits by about Game 50.
It's refreshing to see Pacioretty not only look like he has a new set of legs to work with, but a new lease on his career, shifting into a more savvy, grittier version of the player he was a decade ago.
Did You Know Max Pacioretty Can Do It All?
Sure, he's not a Selke winner, but Pacioretty is a sneaky good defender even if the initial numbers don't suggest it. One impressive stat is that Pacioretty averages only 11:14 of ice time this season, but leads the Maple Leafs in shift length with 0:53 per shift.
It's not a factor of him being caught out of position, or giving up too many chances, as he's only been on the ice for five opposition goals; it's him being a leader and not stopping until he's sure he can make a safe change.
Pacioretty also has a better defensive rating than offensive so far this season, contributing more point shares on defense than offense. He's also ranked the lowest on expected goals against, showing he's a factor in holding down the fort.
Oh, and he's also ranked in the 81st percentile in speed this season, a shocking revelation for a 35-year-old. He averages 44.7% in the offensive zone, ranking in the 93rd percentile; he keeps the puck in the opponent's zone.
He's also smart where he plays and knows when to get off, being in the defensive zone only 36.5% of the time, meaning Toronto and Pacioretty don't stay in their own zone for too long.
Give Max His Flowers Already
Max Pacioretty has created a great career for himself. He's been a part of two historic franchises, has over 300 NHL goals, and will go down as one of the greatest American players of all time.
But what he does on the ice often goes overlooked, and it's the small things he does that have led him to have such a fruitful career. Toronto made a great decision signing Pacioretty regardless of the backlash it may receive.
Because Max Pacioretty is a darn good hockey player and plays a complete game even if it's not noticed. He deserves his flowers, but I'm sure he'll settle for a Stanley Cup.
