As per usual, the Toronto Maple Leafs used all of the time allotted to them to make their roster cap compliant by the 5:00 pm EST deadline on Monday. To cut the roster down to the maximum 23 players, and under the salary cap, GM Brad Treliving did a little bit of everything. By signing veterans, using the waiver wire, and taking advantage of LTIR, the Toronto Maple Leafs made it work, starting the season only $1 under the $88 million limit.
Pacioretty Signs With Toronto Leafs After PTO
Many believed the PTO tag on Max Pacioretty was just a formality, and those people proved to be right on Monday. The Toronto Maple Leafs signed the former Canadiens captain to a one-year $873,770 deal, with a couple of bonuses tied in. Pacioretty will receive an extra $313,115 if he plays 10 games in 24-25, and another $313,115 if he plays 35 games, totaling $1.5 million. The bonuses will count against the 25-26 cap.
After making $63 million throughout his career, for Pacioretty, it’s not about the money. “At this stage of my career, the most important thing is winning. And I feel that this group has a chance to win. There’s a lot of strong players, and you don’t just want to be along for the ride. You want to contribute.”
His days of scoring 22-39 goals may be behind him, but being a contributor on the third line is all that is being asked of him, and maybe the second power play. An underestimated part of his game is his defensive skill. Since 2011-12, he has had a negative +/- only four times, which will be a welcomed stat to the bottom half of this roster.
Lorentz Joins Childhood Team After Strong Camp
After winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers last season, Steven Lorentz has signed a one-year, $775,000 deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs, making a childhood dream come true. After he scored on Saturday night, reality sunk in for the Kitchener, Ont. native. “I blacked out a little bit there, just knowing that things have come full circle,” Lorentz said after the game. “Coming to this rink as a kid and watching as a young guy, and then being able to do that and be able to put my arms over my head, it was a pretty special feeling.”
Lorentz is a reliable defensive player who can fill in at center if needed. Not only will his presence be felt 5-on-5 but especially on the penalty kill. The Toronto Maple Leafs PK was 23rd in the NHL last season and was a point of emphasis in training camp. They finished the preseason without allowing a goal shorthanded.
Final Thoughts
To wrap up the flurry of roster moves, the Toronto Maple Leafs placed Jani Hakanpaa (knee), Connor Dewar (shoulder), Fraser Minten (ankle), and Calle Jarnkrok(lower body) on LTIR. Each player must miss at least 10 games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs also placed Goalie Matt Murray and defenseman Marshall Rifai on waivers. Murray had bilateral hip surgery and missed all of last season, and will benefit from time in the AHL with the Marlies. He will be the first call-up in net if the situation arises. Rifai was a surprise standout in training camp, and will almost certainly get his chance on the big club this season.
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