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Max Pacioretty

Snapshots: McKenna, Peterka, Dobson, Pacioretty

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Although the 2025 NHL Draft is only a few days away, the projected first overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft is already making waves. The expectation is that Gavin McKenna, currently rostered with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, will play in the NCAA for the 2025-26 season.

In this week’s rendition of 32 Thoughts, podcast host Elliotte Friedman shared that McKenna has completed interviews with Penn State University, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Denver. Friedman lists the former two as the perceived favorites, but all four programs are expected to compete for a National Championship next season.

Any program that lands McKenna will have successfully recruited a generational talent. McKenna scored 41 goals and 129 points in 56 games for the Tigers this season, with another nine goals and 38 points in 16 postseason contests en route to a Memorial Cup Final finish. To put McKenna’s season into perspective, Connor McDavid scored 28 goals and 99 points in 56 games for the OHL’s Erie Otters in his age-17 season, with another four goals and 19 points in 14 postseason games.

Other snapshots:

  • According to Frank Seravalli in the DFO Rundown podcast, the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders have had loose trade negotiations regarding forward JJ Peterka and defenseman Noah Dobson. A one-for-one swap would fill an area of need for both organizations, with the Sabres prioritizing a right-handed defenseman and the Islanders looking to jumpstart a lethargic offense. Still, both teams are continuing to gauge the market for each player, and a trade isn’t considered imminent.
  • Nick Alberga of The Leafs Nation reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs remain interested in re-signing winger Max Pacioretty for next season. Despite a solid postseason performance, Pacioretty should warrant a relatively cheaper contract, given he missed more than half of the season due to injury. Still, Alberga notes that Pacioretty is prioritizing remaining close to his family in Michigan, meaning his desired employer will come down to the Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings.

Max Pacioretty Interested In Extension With Maple Leafs

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June 10: Despite concerns raised earlier in the spring, it appears there’s progress toward a reunion between Pacioretty and Toronto. He’s “leaning toward a return after the Leafs expressed considerable interest in keeping him following a terrific postseason,” James Mirtle of The Athletic wrote yesterday. Whether that means a guaranteed contract or another PTO agreement while the Leafs figure out some salary cap considerations remains to be seen.

May 20: Veteran winger Max Pacioretty will become an unrestricted free agent again this summer after completing a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs. Whether he intends to sign another deal remains to be seen. He told reporters today, including Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic, that he isn’t sure if he’ll entertain the idea of an 18th NHL season.

The 36-year-old called this season a “very difficult” one for him due to being away from his family. The Connecticut native still managed to put together a second partial season in a row after undergoing three surgeries on his Achilles tendon in 2022 and 2023.

A training-camp catch-on after inking a tryout with the Leafs, Pacioretty was limited to 13 points in 37 regular-season contests because of various injuries unrelated to his Achilles issues. That didn’t stop him from being one of the most effective producers of the postseason, though. He ranked fourth on the Leafs in playoff scoring despite serving as a scratch for a pair of games in the first round, tallying three goals and five assists for eight points in 11 appearances, including the series-clincher in Game 6 over Ottawa. He did so while averaging just 12:51 per game, the lowest of anybody in the playoffs with multiple games played and at least 0.7 points per game.

Pacioretty, a slam-dunk 30-goal scorer in his prime, will likely get at least a few offers if he’s open to continuing his career. It’s unclear if Toronto would be interested in re-upping him, but it appears the feeling isn’t mutual, even if they did.

He’s still clicking at a 35-point pace per 82 games since resuming his career with the Capitals in 2023-24 following the Achilles tears. He doesn’t have the shooting talent he once did, finishing at just 5.5% over the last two campaigns, but he’s carved out a more physical checking role for himself in a team’s middle six while still managing to contribute some offense.

Injury Notes: Cirelli, Pacioretty, Siegenthaler, Thomas, Protas

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Lightning center Anthony Cirelli is a game-time decision for Game 2 vs. Florida tonight after departing Game 1 early with an undisclosed injury, tweets Colby Guy of the Palm Beach Post. It’s not yet certain whether Cirelli will participate in warm-ups. He initially left the game early in the second period after awkwardly landing a hit and only came back for a couple of shifts before sitting out the third period. If he’s not able to go for Game 2, it doesn’t look like he’ll carry anything more serious than a day-to-day designation and shouldn’t be ruled out when the series shifts to Sunrise for Game 3. Cirelli was a minus-two with just one shot on goal in 6:21 of action Tuesday, a rare statline for one of the league’s best two-way centers. Now in his eighth year in Tampa, Cirelli had a career-best +30 rating, 27 goals, and 59 points in the regular season.

Here are a few more injury-related notes from around the NHL:

  • Maple Leafs winger Max Pacioretty will draw into the lineup for Game 3 on a line with Game 2 overtime hero Max Domi and Bobby McMann, according to line rushes at morning skate (via Chris Johnston of The Athletic and TSN). He’s been out since the 4 Nations break with an undisclosed injury, but was available if needed for Games 1 and 2. After sitting as a healthy scratch, he’ll come in for Nicholas Robertson, who has an assist in the series but just one shot attempt in over 20 minutes of ice time across the two games. The 36-year-old Pacioretty scored 5-8–13 in 37 regular-season games for the Leafs between injury-related absences.
  • Devils rearguard Jonas Siegenthaler practiced today for the first time since undergoing lower-body surgery in February, tweets the team’s Amanda Stein. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said they’re “getting more aggressive with [his timeline] now to see how we can push it just given the circumstances,” via NHL.com’s Mike Morreale. New Jersey went without defenders Brenden Dillon and Luke Hughes in Game 2 and isn’t expecting to get either back for Game 3 against Carolina tomorrow.
  • Blues star Robert Thomas, who missed practice yesterday for rest/maintenance, was at today’s morning skate and is good to go for tonight’s Game 3, per Tracey Myers of NHL.com. The 25-year-old center is dealing with a minor lower-body injury he sustained in the final game of the regular season. He scored the series’ opening goal but has otherwise gone without a point and has a minus-four rating as St. Louis trails Winnipeg 2-0.
  • Capitals winger Aliaksei Protas is inching closer to a return and will at least travel with Washington for Games 3 and 4 in Montreal, head coach Spencer Carbery said (via Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network). The breakout Belarusian hasn’t played since sustaining a skate cut on his foot on April 4. Washington has overcome the loss of his 30 goals and 66 points so far with a 2-0 series lead, but a return would be big news nonetheless to help close the door for Montreal to gain momentum.

Atlantic Injury Notes: Maple Leafs, Bjorkstrand, Söderblom

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Sunday: Toronto head coach Craig Berube expects Oliver Ekman-Larsson to play tonight, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. In 77 games on the season, the defender produced 29 points and a plus-14 rating. He missed the final four games of the season with an upper-body injury.

Saturday: Defenseman Jani Hakanpää will be the only rostered player on the Toronto Maple Leafs who won’t be available for the team in their Round One matchup against the Ottawa Senators. In an article from Luke Fox of Sportsnet, Fox reports that defensemen Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and forwards David Kämpf and Max Pacioretty will be available for Toronto on Monday.

Given that the Maple Leafs have few issues scoring goals, McCabe and Ekman-Larsson are the most notable returnees, particularly concerning the team’s penalty kill. Despite finishing the year with a 77.87% success rate, Toronto’s kill average dropped to 75.00% throughout their final seven games without McCabe. The Maple Leafs’ penalty kill ranked just below the NHL average of 78.36%, which could be an avenue to success for Ottawa, given their capable 11th-ranked powerplay.

With respect to the Senators and their season, they arguably present Toronto with their best opportunity to reach Round Two of the postseason for the second time in nine years. After finishing the regular season on a 12-2-1 tear, having a wholly healthy roster for Round One will do nothing but help the Maple Leafs’ chances.

Other injury notes from the Atlantic Division:

  • Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper confirmed that trade deadline acquisition Oliver Bjorkstrand won’t be available for the team’s Round One matchup against the Florida Panthers (Tweet Link). Bjorkstrand sustained a lower-body injury a few days ago, and his Round One availability was in doubt, given that his recovery timeline was designated as week-to-week. The Herning, Denmark native scored five goals and nine points in 18 games for the Lightning after being acquired from the Seattle Kraken before the trade deadline.
  • According to Rachel Hopmayer of CBS Detroit, Detroit Red Wings forward Elmer Söderblom is expected to join the team’s AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, for the Calder Cup playoffs once his undisclosed injury has healed. In his first extended stay in the NHL since the 2022-23 season, Söderblom scored four goals and 11 points in 26 games for the Red Wings after being recalled in late January. His addition will boost the Griffins’ postseason chances, given Söderblom scored five goals and 17 points in 38 games with Grand Rapids earlier this season.

Maple Leafs Recall Marshall Rifai

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The Maple Leafs announced today they’ve recalled defenseman Marshall Rifai from AHL Toronto. Winger Max Pacioretty, who’s missed three games with an undisclosed injury, was placed on injured reserve in a corresponding transaction. Their active roster remains at the 23-player maximum.

Rifai fulfills Toronto’s need for an extra body on defense. They lost Chris Tanev to what’s believed to be a short-term shoulder injury Tuesday night in Boston, leaving them without an additional defender in case of further injuries for the remainder of their road trip. The left-shot Rifai will likely sit in the press box instead of replacing the righty Tanev in the lineup. The latter honor should go to 6’5″ depth piece Philippe Myers, who’s been passable when called upon this season but hasn’t played since the 4 Nations break.

Tanev not landing on injured reserve indicates the Leafs are hopeful he’ll be back within the lineup sometime over their three-game stretch between now and Monday. A retroactive IR placement would have ruled him ineligible until next Wednesday against the Golden Knights, Toronto’s final game before the trade deadline.

The 26-year-old Rifai lands his fourth recall of the season, although none have led to any playing time. The 6’2″, 213-lb depth rearguard remains with just two career NHL appearances to his name, both coming in February of last season. Signed by the Leafs as an undrafted free agent out of Harvard in 2022, his defensive acumen in the minors impressed the front office enough to sign him to a two-year, one-way $1.55MM extension at the beginning of the season. That would indicate they expect him to be in more serious consideration for playing time in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 campaigns.

While not known or depended upon for his point production, Rifai is amid his worst offensive season out of three AHL campaigns with Toronto. Now an alternate captain for the Marlies, he’s got 3-6–9 through 44 games this season after notching 2-17–19 in 57 showings last year. The hard-hitting blue-liner stands as the team’s PIMs leader with 57, and his plus-seven rating is tied for fifth on the team.

Notably, Rifai has spent 24 days on the active roster this season. If this recall lasts over six days, he’ll need to clear waivers again to return to the minors.

Since Pacioretty last played before the break, he’s already missed more than seven days and can come off IR anytime. The 36-year-old has now lost 17 games to injury this season, although thankfully none are related to the three consecutive Achilles surgeries that cost him the overwhelming majority of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns. When healthy, the veteran has 5-8–13 in 37 appearances, posting a minus-two rating and averaging 13:30 per game with an eye-popping 105 hits, already the fourth-most in a single season of his 17-year career. He’s already hit both of his performance bonuses and will earn the full $1.5MM value of the one-year contract he signed with the Leafs in October.

Injury Updates: Lowry, Heineman, Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs

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The Jets will have their captain back in the lineup tonight versus St. Louis as the team announced (Twitter link) that Adam Lowry will return after missing the last three-plus weeks with an upper-body injury.  The 31-year-old was on pace for a career year offensively before being sidelined after collecting 11 goals and 15 assists in his first 48 outings while averaging 15:24 per night of ice time.  He’s likely to return to the middle-six role he held before being sidelined while being a key part of their penalty kill.  Winnipeg had two open roster spots so no corresponding move needed to be made to activate Lowry.

Other injury news from around the NHL:

  • The Canadiens will welcome back Emil Heineman tonight against Ottawa, per a team announcement (Twitter link). The rookie has chipped in with 10 goals and seven assists in 41 games despite primarily playing on Montreal’s fourth line as he’s averaging just over 11 minutes a night.  Heineman missed the last five weeks with an upper-body injury sustained on a road trip in Utah when he was struck by a car.
  • Aaron Portzline of The Athletic provided (Twitter links) a pair of updates on injured Blue Jackets veterans. Center Sean Monahan skated today and has been skating on his own for a while as he hopes to be back soon from his wrist injury.  He was initially expected to be out until mid-March but is hopeful that he won’t be out for much longer.  Meanwhile, blueliner Erik Gudbranson took part in today’s optional skate.  He has been out since mid-October after undergoing shoulder surgery.  His initial timeline for a return was late March and the fact he’s on the ice now suggests that he’s at least on schedule in his recovery.
  • Maple Leafs winger Max Pacioretty has been ruled out of this weekend’s games after tweaking something earlier in the week, relays Nick Barden of The Hockey News. There’s no timetable yet on how long he’ll miss.  However, they could get center Connor Dewar back on Sunday against Chicago.  Dewar has missed a little over a month with an upper-body injury.  Toronto will have to make a roster move to activate him although that could be as simple as transferring Pacioretty to IR for the time being.

East Notes: Thompson, Pesce, Pacioretty, Pulock

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Team USA has been given permission to bring Sabres center Tage Thompson and Devils defenseman Brett Pesce to Boston as standby players for Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off finale, reports Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.  As was the case with Quinn Hughes who was initially intended as the reserve player, the only way Thompson or Pesce could suit up versus Canada is if Team USA drops below 12 healthy forwards or six healthy blueliners.  Thompson was one of the more notable omissions from the initial roster and is averaging a point per game through 48 outings in Buffalo.  Meanwhile, Pesce has been as advertised in his first season with New Jersey, logging nearly 21 minutes a night in a shutdown role in his 48 appearances.

More from the Eastern Conference:

  • Maple Leafs winger Max Pacioretty left practice early today with head coach Craig Berube telling reporters including Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun that the veteran tweaked something when he took to the ice. Berube added the injury isn’t believed to be too serious at first glance.  Pacioretty has dealt with injuries off and on throughout the season and has been limited to 37 outings where he has five goals and eight assists while logging just 13:30 per game, his lowest ATOI since his rookie year back in 2008-09.
  • Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock took part in today’s practice in a non-contact jersey as he works his way back from an undisclosed injury sustained late last month. However, head coach Patrick Roy noted to reporters including Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News (Twitter link) that the blueliner’s availability for Sunday’s contest against Dallas remains uncertain.  Pulock is logging nearly 22 minutes a night and has 16 points in 48 games and with the Isles just three points out of a share of the last playoff spot, getting him back soon would certainly help their fortunes.

Maple Leafs Activate Max Pacioretty, Place Matthew Knies On IR

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have activated veteran winger Max Pacioretty off of injured reserve. He has missed the team’s last three games with an upper-body injury. It wasn’t apparent when Pacioretty suffered the injury, which first popped up when he missed practice on January 20th. In a corresponding move, Toronto has also placed winger Matthew Knies on injured reserve with his own upper-body injury. Knies was injured one week ago, after taking a hard hit from Kirill Marchenko in the second period of Toronto’s January 22nd loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Knies’ IR designation can be made retroactive to that game, allowing Toronto to activate him as soon as he’s back to full health. Knies will still be on a ticking clock, though, with just two games left on Toronto’s schedule before they go on a two-week break for the 4-Nations Face-Off.

Losing Knies has been a hard blow the Maple Leafs lineup. The team has lost each of their last two games, getting held to one goal in both outings. Rookie Jacob Quillan received his NHL debut in Knies’ absence on Saturday, but the lineup vacancy will now turn back over to Pacioretty. The 17-year-pro has had a quiet season, marred by injuries, in his first year with the Maple Leafs. He has just five goals and 12 points through 32 games, a far lower scoring pace than he managed even just last year, when Pacioretty netted 23 points in 47 games for the Washington Capitals. Returning from injury will give Pacioretty a chance to snap the eight-game scoring drought he was riding prior to injury. He had six points, split evenly, in nine games prior to that drought – painting a clear picture of a hot-and-cold season.

Even with Pacioretty back, the Leafs will miss Knies for as long as he stays out. The 22-year-old winger is once again showing signs of improvement, with 18 goals and 31 points in 47 games this season. That’s a 54-point scoring pace across 82 games, far better than the 35 points Knies scored in 80 games last year. He’s earned a strong top-six role with that production, averaging nearly 18-and-a-half minutes each game. There’s been no indication of just how much longer Knies may miss, but he’ll be quickly slotted back into the top of Toronto’s lineup as soon as he’s back. Notably, head coach Craig Berube said that he plans to provide goaltender Anthony Stolarz with every chance he can to return before the team’s 4-Nations break. That mindset could also help Knies get back onto the ice before the team returns on February 22nd.

East Notes: Norris, Sillinger, Beck, Pacioretty

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While the Senators are set to welcome a forward back to their lineup on Thursday, they’ll be missing another one for at least the next few games.  Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch relays that center Josh Norris has been ruled out through the weekend, meaning he’ll miss at least the next three games.  The 25-year-old left Tuesday’s game in the first period for what was called precautionary reasons but he has been listed as having an upper-body injury.  Norris has 17 goals and 10 assists in 47 games so far this season, numbers that are comparable to the 16 and 14 respectively he had in 50 outings last year.  He also ranks second on the Sens in faceoff percentage and hits.

More from the Eastern Conference:

  • The Blue Jackets were without center Cole Sillinger for their game in Toronto. The team announced (Twitter link) that the 21-year-old is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.  After putting 32 points in 77 games in 2023-24, Sillinger is on pace to eclipse that output relatively soon as he already has seven goals and 16 assists through his first 45 outings this season.
  • The Canadiens announced (Twitter link) that center Owen Beck has been assigned to AHL Laval. The 20-year-old was recalled on Sunday and played in Montreal’s last two games, playing just over 15 minutes combined.  Beck is off to a solid start to his professional career in the minors, collecting 25 points in 37 games with the Rocket this season.  No corresponding recall is expected before their game in Detroit on Thursday.
  • Originally believed to be out day-to-day with an upper-body injury sustained versus Montreal on the weekend, Maple Leafs winger Max Pacioretty is now expected to miss more time. Head coach Craig Berube told reporters including Nick Barden of The Hockey News (Twitter link) that the veteran is now expected to be out “probably a little bit longer” than day-to-day.  Pacioretty has dealt with multiple injuries this season but has still suited up in 32 games this season, picking up five goals and seven assists.  He was placed on IR earlier today but it now appears that he’ll be out longer than the required seven days.

Maple Leafs Recall Jacob Quillan, Max Pacioretty To IR

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled forward Jacob Quillan from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and placed forward Max Pacioretty on injured reserve retroactive to January 18th.

Quillan has played most of this season as the Marlies’ third-line center and has provided light offensive contributions with six goals and nine assists in 35 games. The 22-year-old was originally signed last April out of the NCAA, inking a two-year entry-level deal. Quillan famously scored the overtime winner that clinched the NCAA national championship for Quinnipiac in 2023.

His recall comes in his first full professional season, and if he does play while with the Maple Leafs, it will mark his NHL debut. It might surprise some people to see the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native get a recall, given his offensive numbers. However, he has been heating up as of late, posting three goals and two assists in his past five games.

As for Pacioretty, the 36-year-old is out of action with an upper-body injury after he took a puck to the ear in Saturday’s win over the Montreal Canadiens.  He’s been a regular for most of this season, dressing in 32 games and providing modest offensive contributions with five goals and seven assists. With Pacioretty officially on IR, he won’t be available tonight against Columbus or Saturday night against Ottawa. The earliest that Pacioretty is likely to return would be next Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild.

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