Leafs Open Up Salary and Roster Spot With Creative Transaction to Welcome Back Max Pacioretty

Long-time NHL insider Bob McKenzie mentioned on few Friday the possible return timeline for several members of the Toronto Maple Leafs. It seems that one of them is available right on queue in Max Pacioretty, who was activated from the LTIR.

To accommodate the move, the Maple Leafs placed defenseman Jake McCabe on the IR with an upper body injury -- a move that is retroactive to November 30th, which should allow McCabe to return as expected this week, if all goes according to plan.

McCabe was forced out with an injury last week when he was struck in the head/neck area by a puck. He returned to practice but the Maple Leafs presumably played it safe and kept him out of the lineup to avoid further injury when McCabe himself confirmed he wasn't feeling quite right.

McKenzie mentioned that McCabe should be back ahead of Tuesday's game against New Jersey, so this is essentially just a paper transaction to open up a roster spot for Pacioretty.

As for Pacioretty, he's been out of the lineup for over 3 weeks after he was forced out of a game against the Montreal Canadiens with a lower body injury.

The veteran is expected to slide onto the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander as well as the second power play unit with Fraser Minten, Nicholas Robertson, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Morgan Rielly.

In 13 games this season, Pacioretty has 2 goals and 6 points, a plus-4 rating, and has averaged 12:11 TOI. McCabe on the other hand has 5 assists in 23 games, a plus-11 rating, and 21:20 ATOI and will be welcomed back with open arms.