Heading into August, one of the better veteran scoring options left on the market is winger Max Pacioretty. Michael Augello of The Hockey News theorized on five (although it’s actually seven) potential destinations for Pacioretty in what could be the last season of his professional career.
Pacioretty (36) is coming off another injury-plagued season, this time with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his lowest-producing offensive season since his sophomore campaign with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2009-10 season, Pacioretty scored five goals and 13 points in 37 games, averaging 13:30 of ice time per game. Fortunately, Pacioretty had a stronger showing in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, scoring three goals and eight points in 11 games, including the series-clincher in the Maple Leafs’ opening-round series against the Ottawa Senators.
Augello’s hypothetical destinations include Pacioretty’s former teams: the Canadiens and Maple Leafs, a team from the New York metropolitan area, the Detroit Red Wings, or the Edmonton Oilers. Whether for geographical location, nostalgic purposes, or for putting him in the best position to win the first Stanley Cup of his career, all five destinations make sense for Pacioretty in the twilight years of his career.
Other snapshots:
- In a minor update to the impasse between center Marco Rossi and the Minnesota Wild, Joe Smith and Michael Russo of The Athletic indicated in a new article that the two sides haven’t spoken since June. The gap is well known, with Rossi seeking a long-term deal similar to that of his teammate Matt Boldy, while the Wild remain firm in their desire for a bridge contract. The pair of journalists argues that Rossi is unlikely to sign a new deal, let alone speak to Minnesota’s management, until the start of training camp in September.
- According to a team announcement, former NHL and AHL veteran Alexander True has signed a one-year deal with the Finnish Liiga’s JYP. Now two years removed from playing in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers, True’s first professional season overseas was fairly disappointing. Playing for the SHL’s MoDo Hockey, True scored seven goals and 17 points in 52 games with a -15 rating last season.
Pacioretty is hanging around solely to get 61 more contests to reach 1000 career games as a player, It’s become embarrassing, At his current pace he’ll reach the milestone at 50 years of age.
Even so he was one of the best players on the leafs in the post season 😵💫
Very true, But, You have to wonder about his durability if Toronto goes deeper in the playoffs, He has managed 27 points in 89 games, Over the last three NHL campaigns, So at some point it’s just a matter of time before he’s out of comission.
Which club offers Rossi a 7 year deal at 7mill that Minny has to match and Rossi gets what he wants?
I don’t think any club is going to offer and undersized injury prone center with one full season under his belt. It was a good year but he’s done it once. If he can repeat then his long term contract becomes more palatable. Nobody wants to risk having to actually pay him that unless he proves this is the Rossi they will get going forward.
Also undersized centermen are not a hot commodity, Bédard being an exception but Rossi isn’t Bédard.
Injury prone guy who has played all 164 regular season games over the past two seasons?
Regardless of how the Rossi situation plays out, I still expect the Wild to lose in the first round in 7 games as per usual.
I agree, I also believe that Guerin’s focus now is the next Kaprizov contract, I think Rossi is an afterthought for the organization, And Guerin is just waiting for the best offer for Rossi.