An NHL insider revealed that Max Pacioretty surprisingly knew for quite some time that he was going to be signing with the Maple Leafs. Starting in the last couple of weeks, the Maple Leafs' interest in Max Pacioretty has been talked about, but according to NHL insider <a href='https://x.com/FriedgeHNIC' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Elliotte Friedman</a> on '32 Thoughts,' they have been in talks for a while longer, definitely hammering out a deal behind the scenes. <q>I took my wife and son to see Pink this summer at the Rogers Centre and we walked into Pacioretty on the street. I said hi to him and he kind of gave me the 'oh I'm here visiting some friends' and I really didn't think much of it cause I was with my family. That one smacked me right in my face and I totally missed it that, obviously, he was here skating and working out for the Leafs at that time. - Elliotte Friedman</q> <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1834572364257902617'> </a></blockquote></div> It's no secret that the Leafs had Pacioretty as their priority acquisition to deepen their <a href='https://editorinleaf.com/posts/the-toronto-maple-leafs-have-left-wing-roster-spots-up-for-grabs-01j7pnccsy2d' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>left-wing depth</a>, despite the chatter about a possible reunion with James van Riemsdyk, who ultimately ended up signing in Columbus yesterday. We wouldn't anticipate Max Pacioretty being on the PTO past the start of the 2024-25 season, but as for a role, your guess is as good as anyone's. There's word the Leafs are working on a trade to clear some cap space, and once that's complete, we'll have a better sense of where he'll slot in. With the crowded roster and Max Pacioretty closing in on 36, it would not be that surprising to see him wind up slotted into a bottom-6 role, but his scoring capability makes it just as likely he could start in the top-6. It's an intriguing situation, for sure. Source: Maple Leafs Daily <a href='https://www.mapleleafsdaily.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/insider-reveals-something-surprising-about-max-pacioretty-deal-with-the-maple-leafs' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Insider Reveals Something Surprising About Max Pacioretty's Deal with the Maple Leafs</a>