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Pacioretty Misses Practice with Upper Body Injury

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Jan 20, 2025 11:10 AM ET

As per the Maple Leafs PR department, “Maple Leafs F Max Pacioretty will not skate this morning (upper body).” It’s not clear what the injury is, but there was a moment in the Leafs last game where Pacioretty almost took a puck off the ear. He remained on the bench for some time.

Luke Fox tweeted on Monday morning, “Pacioretty finished Saturday’s game but was in discomfort after taking this puck to the head. Now absent Monday morning with an “upper body” injury.

Maple Leafs F Max Pacioretty will not skate this morning (upper body).
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 20, 2025

Pacioretty’s injury history is well documented. It includes a broken vertebra and a severe concussion in 2011, as well as multiple Achilles tendon surgeries in recent years. His ability to recover from such setbacks has earned him the “Wolverine” moniker, but the frequency in which he’s often out of the lineup has been a concern in recent seasons.

This latest setback, an upper-body injury, has kept him from skating. It leaves questions about the severity of the issue. The hope is that this isn’t something serious or concussion-related.

Maple Leafs Dealing with a Few Injuries

The Leafs are already down a few players to injury. John Tavares is out after taking an awkward fall on January 16 in practice. His injury was said to be week to week. Calle Jarnkrok is also out on LTIR, as is defenseman Jani Hakanpaa.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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