{"id":443456,"date":"2024-10-07T10:36:21","date_gmt":"2024-10-07T14:36:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=443456"},"modified":"2024-10-07T10:36:21","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T14:36:21","slug":"former-bill-masterson-trophy-winner-signs-in-toronto","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/10\/07\/former-bill-masterson-trophy-winner-signs-in-toronto\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Bill Masterson Trophy Winner Signs in Toronto"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/pacioma01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-24_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Max Pacioretty<\/a> has agreed to a one-year contract with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?s=toronto+maple+leafs\" target=\"_self\">Toronto Maple Leafs<\/a>. The 2012 Bill Masterson Trophy winner looks to rebound following two lackluster seasons. The contract is worth a little under $875K. However, if Pacioretty plays in enough games he could earn up to $600K more.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">One-year deals in Toronto:<br \/>Max Pacioretty comes in at $873,770<br \/>Steven Lorentz at $775K<\/p>\n<p>Pacioretty also has games-played bonuses which could reach $600K. Those would count against next year\u2019s cap<\/p>\n<p>Toronto squeezing to maximize its space<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FriedgeHNIC\/status\/1843295301807079566?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">October 7, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3>Contract Follows PTO Opportunity<\/h3>\n<p>Pacioretty<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.tsn.ca\/nhl\/toronto-maple-leafs-sign-max-pacioretty-to-pto-1.2171977\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> signed a professional tryout<\/a> with the Maple Leafs on September 11. It was believed that the team would sign Pacioretty to a contract before the puck dropped on a new season.<\/p>\n<h3>Pacioretty Broke Out in His Third Season Following Scary Injury<\/h3>\n<p>Pacioretty&#8217;s start to his NHL career is an infamous one. On March 8, 2011, Pacioretty, then with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/canadiens\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Montreal Canadiens<\/a>, was checked by <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/bruins\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Boston Bruins<\/a> defenceman and captain, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/charazd01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-24_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zdeno Chara<\/a>. The force of the hit caused Pacioretty to collide with a stanchion at the end of the bench. Pacioretty was diagnosed with a 4th cervical vertebra and a grade 2 concussion. No fines or suspensions were issued to Chara, but a criminal investigation was conducted by the Montreal Police Service. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/nhl\/news\/max-pacioretty-speaks-out-on-chara-hit-lack-of-punishment-i-am-disgusted-with-the-league\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Pacioretty himself was critical of the lack of discipline issued by the NHL<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Pacioretty recovered for the 2011-12 season, his third season in the league. Leading the Canadiens with 79 points (33 goals and 32 assists), Pacioretty found himself in a breakout season just a year after his injury. Pacioretty would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/nhl\/news\/montreals-pacioretty-awarded-bill-masterton-memorial-trophy\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">receive the Bill Masterson Trophy<\/a> at the end of this season for his sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.<\/p>\n<h3>Viva, Las Vegas!<\/h3>\n<p>In September of 2018, Pacioretty was <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2018\/09\/10\/max-pacioretty-traded\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">traded to the Vegas Golden Knights<\/a>. Pacioretty remained a constant presence in the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/vegas-golden-knights\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Vegas<\/a> offence, albeit, his numbers were not as good as they were in Montreal.<\/p>\n<p>Pacioretty helped the Golden Knights reach the Western Conference Final in 2020 and 2021. Both teams, the Golden Knights failed to advance.<\/p>\n<p>In his final season with the Golden Knights, Pacioretty only played in 39 games due to a foot and wrist injury. The Golden Knights would fail to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.<\/p>\n<h3>Injuries And Ineffectiveness Spoiled Pacioretty&#8217;s Time in Carolina and Washington<\/h3>\n<p>Pacioretty joined the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2024\/06\/24\/tulskys-tall-task-presents-unique-opportunity-in-carolina-hurricanes-offseason\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Carolina Hurricanes<\/a> by virtue of a trade for the 2022-23 season. However, Pacioretty would<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2022\/08\/10\/max-pacioretty-sidelined-with-injury\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"> tear his Achilles twice<\/a> during the course of the season, limiting him to just five regular-season games.<\/p>\n<p>Pacioretty <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2023\/07\/01\/max-pacioretty-earns-a-new-deal\/\" target=\"_self\">joined the Washington Capitals<\/a> for the 2023-254 season on an incentive-based contract. Pacioretty scored four goals in 47 games in the regular season. In the Capitals season-ending sweep in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/rangers\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">New York Rangers<\/a>, Pacioretty recorded just an assist in four games.<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/pacioma01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-11_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Max Pacioretty<\/a> Enters New Contract with Something to Prove<\/h3>\n<p>The last four seasons of Pacioretty&#8217;s career have not been kind to him. At age 35, Pacioretty is on the downhill slope of his NHL career. While there is still hope he can be a productive player in the NHL again, it is possible who he has been these last four seasons is who he is now.<\/p>\n<p>At this time, it is unclear who Pacioretty&#8217;s linemates will be. However, if he does time with players like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/matthau01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-11_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Auston Matthews<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/marnemi01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-11_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mitch Marner<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/n\/nylanwi01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-09-11_hr\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">William Nylander<\/a>, Pacioretty will have the opportunity to excel with the playmakers. Furthermore, Pacioretty could serve as an asset to the Leafs power play.<\/p>\n<p>If he can return to being a productive player, a second Bill Masterson Trophy could be in his future.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Max Pacioretty has agreed to a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 2012 Bill Masterson Trophy winner looks to rebound following two lackluster seasons. The contract is worth a little under $875K. However, if Pacioretty plays in enough games he could earn up to $600K more. One-year deals in Toronto:Max Pacioretty comes in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3464,"featured_media":443595,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,2,4547,34,4548],"tags":[353,5650,662,5951],"class_list":["post-443456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leafs","category-featured","category-hockey","category-news","category-nhl","tag-max-pacioretty","tag-nhl-contracts","tag-nhl-free-agency","tag-toronto-maple-leafs-news"],"modified_by":"Levi Pike, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443456","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3464"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=443456"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/443456\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/443595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=443456"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=443456"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=443456"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}