Max Pacioretty seemed to be a bit of a polarizing signing when the Toronto Maple Leafs brought him in, and he never should have been.

Perhaps it was due to a desire for the Leafs to let their many young depth forwards battle for spots to fill out the roster instead of bringing in another veteran, but Pacioretty was an effective bottom-six forward when healthy and picked the playoffs to play his best hockey of the season. What started with a professional try-out ended with a playoff run that saw him score three goals, including the one to propel them to the second round, and five assists for eight points in 11 games. Not only did he deliver offensively when the team needed him to, but he revitalized his game to fit that of a bottom-six forward, leading the team with 61 hits in 11 playoff games.

It was certainly an impressive enough showing to make the Leafs at least consider re-signing him, but when meeting with reporters following the end of their playoff run, the 36-year-old remained non-committal about whether he’d continue playing in 2025-26.

“This year was very difficult for me, being away from my family, so I’m really excited just to get home and be with them, and talk to them about what’s next in life,” Pacioretty told the media. “But in terms of playing, that’s difficult to answer right now.”

Pacioretty is a veteran of 17 NHL seasons and has accomplished everything except for the main goal, which is winning the Stanley Cup. If he feels well enough to play and his family throws their support behind him, there will no doubt be teams interested in his services, including the Leafs, after his performance in the playoffs. Speaking about playing in Toronto, Pacioretty said that he loved the pressure that came from playing in one of the league’s top markets.

Although Pacioretty battled some injury issues this season, he was still effective when he played, with 13 points in 37 games, finishing 7th on the team in hits despite only playing 37 games. If he’s open to a return, it’s very possible the Leafs could get a deal done, knowing that he won’t come with a huge price tag. But the desire to be with family eventually takes over, especially if you’re married with children like he is, so whichever decision he makes will be the best for him from a personal standpoint.