The Toronto Maple leafs, according to multiple sources, will give a contract to Max Pacioretty at the end of training camp. Apparently, that was always the plan and he didn't have to earn it.
Considering the hoops the Toronto Maple Leafs require their young players to jump through, I find this unfair and best, and idiotic at worst.
If Pacioretty somehow looks like the superstar he used to be, he should be on the team. But he doesn't look at all like that player and he never will again.
Through three games of training camp, it's clear the Leafs made a mistake because they have a glut of young, exciting players on their roster and really no need at all for Pacioretty, to say nothing of other vets such as Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf whose jobs appear to be in great jeopardy as well.
Max Pacioretty is a huge mistake for the Toronto Maple Leafs
If I thought Pacioretty would get an objective look and then be slotted in as he deserved, I wouldn't hate this move so much. But NHL coaches always give more rope to veterans, and anyone who watched Mike Babcock spend an entire season + the playoffs giving Patrick Marleau ice-time and opportunities he wasn't even close to deserving should know better.
And since Pacioretty scored two goals and added an assist in his first game, people are acting like he already won a job, but looks can be deceiving. His numbers from game one are great, but its worth noting his most dominant stretch came when he was paired with Tavares and Cowan, and they had 90% puck-possession and outshot Montreal 5-0.
Those are good numbers, but the guy whose job he's probably trying to steal was instrumental in making him look good. As for the two goals, one was a tip in, and the other was a fluke.
Realistically, he was a below replacement player last year, and at age 35 the climb back to just being a playable NHL player is extremely long and unlikely. To reach his former levels of stardom is a literal impossibility.
Pacioretty did not play in the Leafs second game, but he suited up against Montreal on Thursday and was awful. He finished with a 38% xGoals rating in a game where Easton Cowan and Nick Robertson were dominant. He was also vastly outplayed by Holmberg and McMann. (stats naturalsttatrick.com).
It's just too far to climb and he's too old and banged up. Sorry to say this, but it's in the Leafs best interest to part ways with him and give opportunities to younger players.
The Leafs have six winger spots in their lineup (outside of the fourth line) and those need to go to Marner, Domi, Cowan, Robertson, McMann and, for now, Jarnkrok. The Leafs still need to find room in the lineup for Holmberg, while Nikita Grebenkin is making a strong push as well.
There is no room and no need for Max Pacioretty. He hasn't outplayed anyone he needs to in order to earn his spot, and he shouldn't just be given one. It was a bad idea to start with that has only gotten worse with time.