Former NHL head coach and current analyst Bruce Boudreau was a recent guest on Leafs Morning Take and was asked about Max Pacioretty’s fit with the Maple Leafs. Boudreau made it very clear if Pacioretty’s going to have a positive impact on the Leafs, it needs to be from the top of their lineup.
Boudreau joined Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on Monday’s show and feels Pacioretty should be in line for top-six minutes if Craig Berube is going to get the most out of the veteran winger. “If he’s going to make the team, he’s got to be in the top six,” stated Boudreau. “I mean I don’t see him as a third-line guy, and I don’t see him as a fourth-line guy.”
“So I mean to me, you’ve got to find a place in the top six. I watched him a lot last year in Washington and he was injured for the first half of the year, and then he was sort of, pretty slow. But he’s been there, he’s done it, he’s been great, he’s been a captain.”
Pacioretty landed a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the Leafs, with the expectation of a one-year deal coming at the conclusion of the preseason schedule. The New Canaan, CT native turns 36 in November and has dealt with multiple significant injuries over the past couple of years.
“If he’s going to make the team, he’s got to be in the top six…”
Bruce Boudreau shares his thoughts on where he sees Max Pacioretty starting the season.@thegoldenmuzzy | @Jay_D_Rosehill
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Pacioretty managed to appear in 47 games for the Capitals last season, recording 23 points. He also chipped in with one assist in four Stanley Cup Playoff games. The veteran winger will look to outduel the likes of Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson, Bobby McMann and Easton Cowan for top-six minutes at left wing. With Knies a heavy favourite for the top line, there could really only be one stop open for the group.
One wrinkle which could be thrown into the mix could be if Leafs’ head coach Craig Berube decides to move William Nylander to centre the second line. This could mean Max Domi moves to the wing, giving Pacioretty another hurdle to overcome for significant playing time. However, if Berube decides to keep Nylander on the wing, Boudreau feels this could be a good sign for Pacioretty’s opportunity.
“If they plan on putting William Nylander on the right side again, I got to believe that they’re thinking of him (Pacioretty) as a top-six forward or 13th forward, one of the two.”
For now, Pacioretty continues his tryout in Toronto as Berube will let some dust settle in the preseason before making any lineup commitments. The Maple Leafs open their preseason schedule this Sunday when they host the Ottawa Senators.
