Former Montreal Canadiens captain and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty joins Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill ahead of the season opener to discuss the rivalry, his time in Toronto, the blockbuster Matthew Knies/Kirill Marchenko trade, and the current Leafs roster.
Pacioretty opens up about what makes the Toronto-Montreal rivalry so unique and how different his experiences were playing for both sides. He jokes about going from being the captain in Montreal to being in and out of the lineup during his final season with the Leafs.
He also weighs in on the Knies/Marchenko trade, and he had plenty to say about the player Toronto is losing. “For me, Matthew Knies is just a horse. I don’t think people realize how big & strong this guy really is. I know the guys loved him on that team.”
Pacioretty explains why he believes Toronto must be getting something significant in return if they were willing to move on from Knies, despite admitting he doesn’t know much about Marchenko.
He also discusses the challenges of preparing for a season opener, especially with all the attention surrounding the Leafs and Canadiens, before reflecting on his own time in Toronto. Pacioretty explains why he became so physical during his final season and how that experience gave him a newfound appreciation for players who consistently play that style.
Finally, Pacioretty gives his thoughts on the current Leafs, why he believes they can get back to the playoffs, and Auston Matthews’ offseason. He reveals that he recently texted Matthews to tell him how good he thinks he’s moving.
And Pacioretty has plenty of praise for Gavin McKenna, whom he got to see up close while coaching in the Big Ten last season.
“His talent with the puck is just ridiculous.”
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