Thoughts and Analysis on the Toronto Maple Leafs signing Pacioretty and Lorentz
Monday morning the Toronto Maple Leafs and Max Pacioretty came to terms on a one-year deal according to The Athletic's Chris Johnston. Johnston also announced that Stanley Cup champion Steve Lorentz was signed to a deal with the club as well.
Both Lorentz and Pacioretty came to the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp on professional tryouts, but many thought it was just temporary after Pacioretty's agent Allan Walsh tweeted out that he expected a contract to be signed for his client prior to the start of the season.
The former Montreal Canadiens forward wasn't flashy, but was steady and provides some veteran leadership in what is likely a third line role. Pacioretty skated in four of the six preseason games collecting a pair of goals and four points total.
Regardless, it's a strange signing, as the Leafs already have Nylander, Marner, Domi, Bobby McMann, Nick Robertson and Matthew Knies and it doesn't seem like Pacioretty should play over any of them.
Thoughts and Analysis on the Toronto Maple Leafs signing Pacioretty and Lorentz
Johnston stated that the contract comes in at $873,700 but also includes bonuses that will be triggered by games played and could bring the contract total to $1.5 Million. The additional $626,230, if accomplished, won't be added to the Maple Leafs salary cap until the 2025-26 season, similar to the contract that Connor Brown signed last year with the Edmonton Oilers.
According to Frank Seravalli the bonus is split up between two different sets of games played with them being triggered at the ten and 35 games played marks of the season.
Pacioretty has had his career derailed over the last couple of years with multiple surgeries to his Achilles. Two seasons ago he played in just five games with the Carolina Hurricanes but scored three goals, last year he dressed in 47 games with the Washington Capitals collecting 23 points.
In Lorentz, the Maple Leafs add a big body that can kill penalties and play an effective role on the fourth line. Like Pacioretty, coach Craig Berube got a long look at Lorentz seeing him in four games and he made a huge impression in his final contest by potting a goal after one of the hardest working shifts of the preseason the team had.
Lorentz was originally drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the seventh round of the 2015 NHL draft and will now join his fourth team in four years. The Kitchener, Ontario native won a Stanley Cup last year with the Florida Panthers where he collected a pair of goals in 16 playoff contests.
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He seems like a fine addition, and has already proven to be a popular personality. Lorentz looks like a solid addition, but will have limited impact as a 4th liner.