According to PuckPedia, the Toronto Maple Leafs moved forward Max Pacioretty to LTIR to help clear the path for Fraser Minten to get called up.
The LTIR rules stipulate that a player is only eligible to be placed there if they are expected to miss at least 10 games and 24 days of the NHL regular season. Pacioretty was listed as ‘week-to-week’ on November 11 so he qualifies, which means he won’t be eligible to return to the lineup any earlier than mid-December. PuckPedia did not specify if the LTIR designation was retroactive to November 9th but that would likely be what the Leafs opted to do here.
Pacioretty suffered the injury during a November 9 game against the Montreal Canadiens. The 35-year-old was legally checked by Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson, and he fell awkwardly to the ground. Pacioretty clutched the back of his leg as he skated to the bench near the end of the first period. He was assisted by John Tavares and Ryan Reaves while leaving the ice during the first intermission and did not return.
It was not made known what exact type of ailment he suffered on the play, but his week-to-week distinction means he likely avoided an Achilles injury.
“It’s going to be some time, but hopefully we can get him back in the not too distant future,” general manager Brad Treliving said of Pacioretty’s injury via TSN’s Mark Masters.
Moving Pacioretty to LTIR and David Kampf to IR was enough to create the room that would allow the Leafs to call up Minten. While Treliving admitted to reporters on Tuesday that his preference was to keep one of their top prospects in the AHL, the string of injuries in combination with Minten’s strong play forced their hand.
This will be his second stint in the NHL after Minten received a four-game trial run at the beginning of the 2023-24 season after he made the team out of camp with a strong showing. He is coming off a high-ankle sprain that he suffered during the Prospect Showdown back in September that delayed the start of his first pro season before being sent to the Toronto Marlies a few weeks ago.
Before his injury last week, Pacioretty had recorded six points (two goals and four assists) in 13 games played. Minten has amassed four points (two goals and two assists) in five games with the Marlies prior to his recall on Tuesday.
