Max Pacioretty Hints His Time With the Maple Leafs May Be Over After Emotional Exit Interview
Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images
Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty reflected on his season at the end of year presser, and relented his time with Toronto; and hockey, might be at its end.
As the Maple Leafs players gathered to speak to reporters at the end of the season media scrum, so many questions were asked about how they felt about this year's disappointing finish, where things are going from here, and what the future holds.
For many players it means gearing up for next season. For Max Pacioretty, it seems he needs to do a lot of contemplating when it comes to not only returning to Toronto, but the NHL in general.
Feeling a bit homesick, Pacioretty admitted he wanted to be closer to his family, and while he could continue his career elsewhere, his laundry list of injuries and setbacks over the past few years might be too much for him.
Max Pacioretty Might Hang Them Up After Disappointing End To Season
This season, he dealt with three separate injury stints and only played in 35 games for the Maple Leafs in 2024-25. He was solid in his time when he played however, scoring 13 points (5G, 8A) in the regular season but shined in the playoffs.
Coming in to add some extra physicality to the lineup, Pacioretty came through in the clutch several times, and scored eight points in 11 playoff games (3G, 5A) along with a blistering 61 hits.
But it's also completely understandable why he would consider a potential end to his career.
He'll be 37 when the next season rolls around, was only signed because of a PTO deal last September and is truly and literally on his last legs.
He clearly has a family he wants to spend time with, and he's made himself quite the career even if he never won the big one.
His 681 career points ranks him 43rd all-time for American NHL players, right behind Reed Larson's 685.
Pacioretty's 335 goals also puts him 21st all-time, ahead of names like Paul Stastny, Brian Gionta, and Doug Weight and is one of the greatest American players of the late 2000s to the mid-2010's.
It certainly felt weird seeing the former Montreal Canadiens captain don the blue and white jersey for the Maple Leafs this season, but it was a pleasant surprise when he played.
If this truly is the end for the veteran forward, he gave it his all. He deserves to be able to relax after pouring so much into a final push.
The question of whether it's a permanent vacation or not is still up for debate however.
| POLL | ||
MAI 20 | 1103 ANSWERS Max Pacioretty Hints His Time With the Maple Leafs May Be Over After Emotional Exit Interview Will Max Pacioretty retire from the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 722 | 65.5 % |
| No | 381 | 34.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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