One of the biggest storylines this offseason has been Max Pacioretty’s deteriorating relationship with the Montreal Canadiens’ management. The Canadiens have said that they are refusing to sign Pacioretty to a contract extension and they are essentially shopping him.
The captain on the move for the @CanadiensMTL?
Where would Max Pacioretty be a good fit? #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/QVxniU0A96
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) July 11, 2018
Max Pacioretty Controls His Own Destiny
The thing is Max Pacioretty is basically in control of his own destiny right now. Honestly, it could not come at a better time. Pacioretty is currently in a contract year and he is looking to be compensated for his services. There is surely going to be a long list of suitors. Who would be crazy enough to turn down a chance to snag someone who can score 30 goals, plays two ways, and can put up 60 points regularly? Not I. Apparently, StanBo has the same mindset as me.
Heard just now Hawks working on several trade scenarios. Pacioretty (“top priority”), Skinner, Faulk, also talking to Vegas and Vancouver (players unnamed but LIndberg and Gagner were mentioned to me last week). FWIW, none of the scenarios I heard about included Panarin.
— John Jaeckel (@jaeckel) July 13, 2018
How Would Max Pacioretty Fit In With the Blackhawks?
Max Pacioretty is an elite talent who still has a few years left in his prime. The Blackhawks will need a replacement for Hossa now that he unofficially retired and his contract was traded to Arizona. The Blackhawks have a ton of young players who are looking to make their mark in the big leagues and money to acquire a real difference maker. A guy like Pacioretty would do wonders for their on-ice development and he would be a great mentor. The Blackhawks have been lacking size and grit in their lineup since the 2010 and 2013 Stanley Cup teams. Max Pacioretty could definitely help fill the void in that aspect as well.
I see Pacioretty on the 1st line with Toews and Saad. Although Max Pacioretty is known as a sniper, he also brings elite playmaking, leadership, physicality, speed, stickhandling, and laser-sharp focus. Therefore, his skill set would help counter the loss of the irreplaceable Marian Hossa. With the addition of Pacioretty, the opponents’ gameplan would change drastically. It would be nearly impossible to stop Jonathan Toews, Brandon Saad, and Max Pacioretty all at once.
Pacioretty is the type of guy who makes the other players around him better. It’s a good thing he makes players better because a lot of players on the Blackhawks need to get better in a hurry. To give you a better idea of what he brings to the table, here is a highlight reel of Max Pacioretty’s greatest moments in the NHL.
Can Blackhawks Afford to Sign Max Pacioretty to a Long-Term Deal?
It is no secret that a large price tag will be attached to a player of Max Pacioretty’s skill level. Since Pacioretty is still under contract with the Montreal Canadiens, the Blackhawks will undoubtedly have to pay a king’s ransom to acquire him. If I were to try and gauge a fair trade value for Pacioretty, I think it is safe to assume that the Canadiens will be asking for either Nick Schmaltz or Alex DeBrincat, and a 1st round pick.
Is this price tag worth it? Some say no. I say yes and I will show you why.
Visualizing a Blackhawks Team With Max Pacioretty
Let’s look further into what it may take to acquire Max Pacioretty and see what the 2018-19 roster would look like afterward. I set up a blockbuster deal that turned out fairly balanced in the end. I tried to keep this trade as fair as possible and realistic on both sides. For my proposed trade, I sent Nick Schmaltz, Artem Anisimov, Alexandre Fortin, and a 2019 1st round pick to Montreal. The Blackhawks received Max Pacioretty, Brendan Gallagher, a 2019 2nd round pick, and future conditional draft pick(s). Here is a visual of the team via Cap Friendly.
After my trade and roster moves, this Blackhawks team would still have $2,441,955 left in cap space for the 2018-19 season. There is also the option of trading Jan Rutta to immediately free up additional cap space, if necessary. Then in 2019-20, this team would have about $20 million in cap space to re-sign Pacioretty to a long-term deal and sign other key players to a new deal. Even if it may seem unlikely, this just goes to show that acquiring Max Pacioretty can really happen if Stan comes up with a plan.
Now obviously, this is just a proposed trade and this roster isn’t set in stone, but I feel like a real Max Pacioretty deal could look very similar. It will cost an arm and a leg for a guy of Pacioretty’s stature, but that is the cost of winning a Stanley Cup. The window of opportunity with this core group is closing. A blockbuster deal for Max Pacioretty could possibly be the figurative match that reignites the fire for this Blackhawks team. StanBo may just be crazy enough to pull it off too, considering he is currently on the hot seat. The Canadiens are itching to get this Pacioretty problem off of their hands, so make sure you keep your eyes and ears open for a Pacioretty trade before the season starts.
