Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty, 35, has been dealing with a lower-body injury and has been placed on injured reserve by the team. According to TSN, Pacioretty is expected to be out for an extended period of time, with no definite timeline for his return.
The injury occurred during the first period of a game against the Montreal Canadiens, when Pacioretty took a hard cross-check to the back from Habs defenseman Mike Matheson. He immediately felt pain in his left thigh, had to be assisted off the ice, and was taken to the locker room for further evaluation.
In his first season with the Maple Leafs, Pacioretty has recorded six points, including two goals and four assists, in 13 games. Throughout his 17-year career playing for five different teams, he has accumulated an impressive total of 674 points, with 332 goals and 342 assists. Notably, he spent a decade with the Canadiens after being drafted by them in 2007.
In addition to Pacioretty’s absence, the Maple Leafs also had forwards Max Domi and William Nylander miss practice on Monday for maintenance reasons. This leaves the team short-handed in terms of offensive depth, as they will have to rely on other players to step up in their absence.
The loss of Pacioretty is a significant blow to the Maple Leafs, as he has been a key contributor to the team’s offense this season. His experience and scoring ability will be sorely missed, and the team will need to find ways to compensate for his absence on the ice.
As the Maple Leafs navigate through this challenging period without Pacioretty, Domi, and Nylander, it will be crucial for other players to elevate their performance and fill the void left by these key forwards. The team’s depth will be tested, and they will need to come together as a unit to continue their pursuit of success in the competitive NHL season.