The Max Pacioretty Experience: How training camp is going for Maple Leafs' former rival

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Chris Gerics
September 20, 2024 (3:16 PM)

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Thursday was the first day Toronto Maple Leafs fans got to see Max Pacioretty on the ice since signing a PTO with the club a short while ago and it looks like it'll be a big year.

While fans have questioned the signing, both because of injuries and because of his ties to such a heated rival, there is no doubt Pacioretty can add to a Maple Leafs team desperate for bottom-six scoring and more veteran leadership; especially one with playoff experience. Pacioretty spoke to the media on Thursday after his first practice and he seems thrilled and motivated to be part of the blue and white this year especially being able to come back at his own pace and where he feels he can offer the most to teams.

Pacioretty started on a line with Pontus Holmberg and rookie prospect Nikita Grebenkin and he still knows that while it seems more of a formality to sign the PTO, there is clearly still competition and he can't coast by on his name value and experience alone.

"I wanted to take my time this summer and see where I can get my body at. See how teams shape up then we could have a discussion and talk to teams a little bit later later in the summer and see where there could be a good fit.

Clearly it's top heavy and everyone knows that you have three, four of the best forwards in the world in this line-up and oftentimes you need guys to kind of plugin and help complement them," Pacioretty said. "There's roles throughout the line-up that there's going to be competition for and I see myself competing every day to try and grab one of those roles and yeah it's no secret that they've had a lot of success with their top guys but you know I need to get over the hump and I'm looking to push everybody just as much as they're looking to push me."

He seems extremely motivated and rightfully so. Pacioretty has dealt with two Achilles injuries the past two seasons and while he knows it's a long road back to where he was, and Father Time waits for no one; he's still trying to keep himself at his peak.

"That's why this kind of took so long from both sides this summer is because I'm over the mental side of it, I wanted to see physically where I was at, I owed it to myself to see if I could get up to a level where I thought I could compete to where I was before the injury," He explained. "It wasn't perfect when I first started training, I realized how deconditioned my body really was through the almost three years, two-plus years of being injured and being on the couch and what not so the mental side is gone, physically I really like where I'm at, what's cool about right now in this day and age is you have the measurements to show you that everything is strong, I'm where I was before in terms of strength and power and I'm looking to prove that on the ice."

It's no secret that the mental game is just as important as being physically fit, and so for Pacioretty to have powered through that phase of mental anxiety is a huge boost to the Maple Leafs both on and off the ice. He would be an incredible add, as Pacioretty averaged 24 goals with the Vegas Golden Knights and with that type of ouput this season, could be a big part of the Maple Leafs having a long playoff run.

He also had to recall his days in Montreal as the last time he's had this much media attention on him:

I've always kind of thrived under the spotlight and the pressure and you know, every day it pushes you to prepare to be the best you can be. Today was an example of that it was a really, really, really hard practice; everyone rose to the occasion but it was a great practice. I loved my time in Montreal and it's a big reason why I feel I could play in this market."

Head coach Craig Berube also had high praise for the former Canadiens captain and he believes he can bring that same intensity and talent as he has in years previous:

"Pacioretty has been an elite scorer in this league for a long time," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube explained. "He's feeling healthy and big, strong guy, can score, hang on the pucks."

He won't need to wait long to face his former team as Toronto opens up the season versus Montreal on October 9th, and you best believe Pacioretty has a chip on his shoulders to not only perform well for the Maple Leafs in general, but show his old team he still means business.

That's what the Maple Leafs need; elite depth scoring and a big body who can control the zone against lesser players. Those are the types of bodies that get you Stanley Cups. The spectre of the Stanley Cup looms over Toronto, trying to earn their first championship since the Cold War; and Pacioretty looks like he's able to use his own #67 to turn the Maple Leafs fortunes around and become a hero in two Canadian cities.