In a news roundup, the TSN insiders discussed potential trades and free agent targets to watch once the season comes to an end. At the conclusion of a segment about players like John Tavares, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Phil Kessel, Darren Dreger mentioned that preliminary discussions have begun between Marc Bergevin and Max Pacioretty’s representative, Pat Brisson, on a potential contract extension.
Pacioretty’s name had been mentioned in trade rumours since about the midway mark of the 2017-18 season, one in which the captain, normally reliable to score at least 30 goals, produced just 17.