TORONTO — Six-ty! Se-ven!
Max Pacioretty, the former Canadiens captain, would hear those taunts raining down from the upper bowl whenever the Toronto Maple Leafs rolled through Montreal, but admits he was a little oblivious to their meaning.
No, sadly. The Bell Centre faithful weren’t so much cheering on their four-time 30-goal scorer, who wears No. 67. They were razzing the visitors by reminding them of the year of their most recent championship.
Pacioretty is well-versed in the significance of ’67 now that he’s all decked out in blue and white, but he never considering ditching a number he’s been wearing for 17 seasons.
“I’ve heard fans say one or two ways: it’s either it’s going to be good luck or bad luck,” Pacioretty said, smiling. “I hope to bring the team good luck with that number.”
Yes, there is some numerical symmetry at play here in Toronto, as the veteran tries to make the cut for his draft team’s oldest rival.
Pacioretty was first handed a 67 sweater when he first arrived at Canadiens training camp and was eager to make the squad.
Now, two months away from his 36th birthday, the Connecticut native finds himself in a similar position. Here on a PTO, the guy in the team-issued camp number is starting on the fifth line and must prove all over again that he’s worthy of an everyday NHL gig.
“I haven’t talked in front of this many cameras in four years,” Pacioretty said on Day 1, diving back into the Canadian fishbowl after injury-plagued stints in Vegas and Washington.
“At this stage in my career, I have a lot to prove right now, and this certainly adds a little bit more motivation. I think I’ve always kind of thrived under the spotlight and the pressure, and every day it pushes you to prepare to be the best you can be.
“I loved my time in Montreal, and that’s a big reason why I feel like I could play in this market.”
Despite his long age and longer medical chart, Pacioretty had offers to join multiple NHL camps this summer.
He chose Toronto because a) the team lost and never replaced a top-six scoring winger in Tyler Bertuzzi, b) the Maple Leafs dress a perennial playoff squad with Cup aspirations, c) the Leafs invest heavily in medical support and development, and d) there is a clear path for Pacioretty to turn his PTO into a contract, perhaps with bonuses.
His agent, Allan Walsh, tweeted that was the plan, and GM Brad Treliving — who is loath to waste PTOs on candidates he’s not seriously considering — essentially confirmed it.
“My expectation is he’s going to be with us, but everyone has to earn their spot here,” Treliving said. “Sometimes we want to write everybody off once they hit 30.
“The encouraging thing with Max is he keeps himself in really good condition. He’s had time to heal. Those are significant injuries that he’s gone through, and he’s put a lot of time into getting himself healthy.”
Pacioretty has been determined to prevent his mind from entertaining thoughts of retirement despite suffering two Achilles injuries within a six-month span and spending two consecutive summers more consumed with rehab than training.
“I never wanted to (think retirement),” he said. “I told myself I’ll listen to my body, and if my body tells me that I can’t go on, then I’ll listen to my body.”
With full support from his wife, Katia, and their five children, the appropriately nicknamed “Patches” dragged his family “around the world” this summer as he visited doctors and trainers and potential NHL landing spots.
Pacioretty attacked this off-season with purpose once his Capitals contract concluded: Can I get my body fit for the NHL?
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“It wasn’t perfect when I first started training. I realized how deconditioned my body really was through the almost three years of being injured and being on the couch,” said Pacioretty, now in a good spot mentally.
“Physically, I really like where I’m at. What’s cool about right now, in this day and age, is you have the measurements to show you that everything’s strong. I’m where I was before in terms of strength and power, and I’m looking to prove that on the ice.”
He’ll need to do that over the next couple of weeks without the benefit of starting alongside Toronto’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
Pacioretty has been taking reps on the Leafs “fifth line” with Pontus Holmberg and Nikita Grebenkin, two other forwards fighting on the fringes.
Should an injury occur or another prove-it winger like, say, Nick Robertson fail to impress, Pacioretty could well earn a spot in the opening night lineup.
“Ultimately, both sides thought that this could be a good fit. My family and I made a lot of sacrifices this summer: a lot of travel, a lot of work. So, I owe it to myself and to them to see if I can get to where I was before the injuries. The good news is, I feel like I’m there and I can’t wait to prove it,” Pacioretty enthused.
“There’s roles throughout the lineup that there’s going to be competition for, and I see myself competing every day to try and grab one of those roles. And, yeah, it’s no secret that they’ve had a lot of success with their top guys, but I need to get over the hump and I’m looking to push everybody just as much as they’re looking to push me.”
Berube’s thoughts: “Pacioretty has been an elite scorer in this league for a long time. He’s feeling healthy. A big, strong guy. Can score. Hang on to pucks.”
The challenge now is to hang on to his No. 67 Maple Leafs sweater until Oct. 9, when Toronto opens its 2024-25 season … at the Bell Centre.
Where Montrealers will surely be chanting, “Six-ty! Se-ven!” regardless who’s in the visiting lineup.
“Hopefully,” Pacioretty said, “they’re cheering for me when they say that this year.”
One-Timers: Steven Lorentz (PTO) missed Friday’s session due to an upper-body injury. Roni Hirvonen took the winger’s spot on the fourth line. … Big daddy Simon Benoit joined camp after missing Day 1 to welcome his first child, a yet-to-be-named baby girl. He was on the ice with Timothy Liljegren. … First-round pick Ben Danford (concussion) returned to the ice but skated alone. … Jani Hakanpää (knee) continues to skate apart from the main groups in a red, non-contact sweater. … Marlies forward Kyle Clifford left practice early, walking gingerly to the room.
