Max Pacioretty remains one of the top free agents on the board, and now The Hockey News have linked him to Montreal, Edmonton as well as a possible return to Toronto.
NHL free agency has been rather quiet over the past few weeks, and while most of the big names are off the board, there remain some solid options, especially veterans like Jack Roslovic, Viktor Olofsson and Max Pacioretty.
The latter enjoyed a solid bounce back campaign with the Toronto Maple Leafs a season ago, but he remains un-signed at this point, despite some significant interest around the league in a 36-year old that could be productive if he can stay healthy.
Now, The Hockey News have linked Pacioretty to some very intriguing teams, including three Canadian teams; the Montreal Canadiens, a team he spent 10 seasons with to start his career, the Edmonton Oilers and of course the Maple Leafs, a team he played in 37 games with a season ago.
In that time, the 36-year old tallied 5 goals and 13 points, and while he may no longer be a top-six forward in the NHL, for teams that need depth, veteran experience and a solid two-way game, Pacioretty would likely be a fantastic pickup for relatively cheap given his market.
Ultimately, it's unclear whether or not Pacioretty will find a team at this point in the off-season that can offer him a significant role like he desires, but as the season gets closer, it makes sense for Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto and other teams to look into the veteran on a very cheap deal, so while nothing appears imminent, after a solid 2024/25 campaign, Pacioretty should field plenty of interest as training camp approaches.
