It is becoming increasingly apparent that Max Pacioretty's days in Fort Erie appear to be numbered.
The veteran left-winger appeared poised to ink an extension with the Falcons in the offseason to become a top-six winger next year but the addition of Artermi Panarin appears to have changed those plans.
"Yes I've asked for a trade," said Pacioretty after practice yesterday.
"I thought next year I would be a key contributor on this team but Panarin changes it. There just aren't enough minutes for all of us to play in Fort Erie so I think a change is best, for sure."
While it's true that the addition of Panarin changes things, GM Matt Young isn't so sure that Pacioretty will be the guy to go.
"I like Max a lot. He's played here before. We have the basis of a 3 year, 5.5 million dollar contract agreed to for beyond this year. If he doesn't want to stay, I'm open to dealing him now or making it a sign-and-trade in the post-season. We need to be clear though - we never told Max he wasn't in our plans whatsoever. He's made that decision for us."
When asked what it would take to pry the 30 goal, 70 point guy (projected numbers for next sim season) away from the Falcons, Young was honest.
"You see the players in that room? It's cost us a lot of prospects and picks to put that team together so we need picks/prospects to replenish the system as we don't know when Casey (Mittelstadt) and Jesse (Puljujarvi) are going to be ready to contribute regularly upfront here. Luckily for us, we have Dylan Strome ready to go for next year or if somebody goes down this year."
Looking around the league one can't help but wonder how Young's phone or email is not being flooded with calls for the scoring winger. There are a number of teams that could use scoring but remain inactive with the trade deadline quickly approaching.
It could be an interesting week in Fort Erie as Young looks to augment his team for what he hopes is an extended playoff run.
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