Report: Pacioretty leaning toward return to Maple Leafs

Unrestricted free agent Max Pacioretty is leaning toward a return to the Toronto Maple Leafs, a source told The Athletic's James Mirtle.

The Leafs expressed interest in retaining Pacioretty after the veteran's productive postseason, Mirtle added. He finished the playoffs with three goals and five assists in 11 games while averaging 12:51 minutes per contest. Pacioretty scored the series-clinching goal against the Ottawa Senators in Game 6 of Round 1.

The winger signed a one-year, $874,000 contract with Toronto after a professional tryout with the club. Pacioretty scored five goals and tallied eight assists in 37 outings and missed 27 games with various injuries.

He also earned just over $600,000 in performance bonuses for suiting up for over 35 contests - a benefit he was eligible for because he is over 35 and agreed to a one-year deal.

Pacioretty would be entering his 18th NHL season if he chooses to play another campaign. The 36-year-old said last month that he's taking time to consider whether this past season with the Maple Leafs would be his last, per Sportsnet.

The veteran has tallied 681 career points in 939 games. The Montreal Canadiens selected Pacioretty 22nd overall in the 2007 NHL Draft, and he spent 10 years with the team. He had a four-year stint with the Vegas Golden Knights from 2018 to 2022 and one-year campaigns with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals.