Max Pacioretty isn’t the first Montreal Canadiens superstar to make the leap to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Let’s take a look at some other prominent players who have made this shift in their careers.
During this past training camp, the Toronto Maple Leafs made headlines by signing former Montreal Canadiens star Max Pacioretty to a professional tryout, which quickly turned into a one-year contract with the team.
Pacioretty isn’t just notable for being a five-time 30-goal scorer with the Canadiens; he also served as the franchise’s captain for three seasons. Now, however, he finds himself on the other side of the rivalry, donning a Maple Leafs jersey.
Over his ten seasons in Montreal, Pacioretty played in more than 600 games, tallying an impressive 226 goals. But as the Canadiens underwent a roster retool, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. After a few more stops, he eventually landed in Toronto. This transition was likely a tough pill to swallow for many Canadiens fans, especially when he faced boos from the crowd during the season opener for wearing the colors of their biggest rival.
Pacioretty is not the first former Canadiens great to join the Maple Leafs, and he certainly won’t be the last. To delve a bit deeper into this rivalry, let’s look at a list of other players who have made the switch from Montreal to Toronto.
Maple Leafs Acquire Ex-Canadiens Star Pacioretty
Kirk Muller
Though Kirk Muller didn’t begin his career in Montreal, he made his mark during his standout seasons with the Canadiens. Notably, his 1992-93 season was a highlight, as he tied his career high with 94 points and played a key role in leading the team to a Stanley Cup victory. His exceptional leadership earned him the nickname “Captain Kirk,” and he was appointed team captain at the start of the 1994-95 season. By the time he completed his tenure with the Canadiens, Muller had racked up 267 games in their uniform, including 33 while wearing the “C.”
Less than a year later, during the 1995-96 season, Muller was traded to Toronto in a deal that sent him and Don Beaupre to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Damien Rhodes and Ken Belanger. The Kingston, Ontario native quickly became a fan favorite in Toronto, thanks to his impressive work ethic and his 20-goal performance in 66 games to kick off the 1996-97 season. However, as the Maple Leafs faced difficulties, he was traded to the Florida Panthers. Canadiens fans watched as their former captain donned the Maple Leafs jersey for over 100 games.
Shayne Corson
The Montreal Canadiens selected Shayne Corson as the eighth overall pick in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, and he quickly made his mark, debuting with the team within two seasons. The native of Barrie, Ontario spent his first six full seasons with the Canadiens, even earning a spot in the 1990 All-Star Game. Known for his ability to electrify the crowd with big hits, crucial goals, or spirited fights, Corson became a fan favorite. However, in the summer of 1992, he was traded to acquire Vincent Damphousse.
In a surprising twist, the Canadiens brought Corson back at the start of the 1996-97 season, likely responding to fan enthusiasm for his return. Unfortunately for Canadiens supporters, Corson opted to return to Toronto when he became an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2000. While he may not have been the star player he once was, Corson effectively filled a gritty depth role with the Maple Leafs, contributing seven points in 19 games during their journey to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001.
Mathieu Schneider
When discussing the most underrated defenseman of the 1990s, Mathieu Schneider deserves a top spot on that list, as he often went unappreciated even during his own draft. Hailing from New York, Schneider was surprisingly passed over until the third round of the 1987 NHL Draft, where he was selected as the 44th overall pick. Nevertheless, he managed to make an impact right away, playing four games with the Canadiens that same season.
Schneider spent nearly a decade with Montreal, contributing to the team’s 1993 Stanley Cup victory and accumulating 199 points in 360 games. In 1995, he was part of a significant trade that sent him and captain Kirk Muller to the New York Islanders in exchange for Pierre Turgeon. Just over a year later, Schneider made headlines again as he joined Wendel Clark in a blockbuster move to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
As an offensive defenseman known for his ability to quarterback the power play, Schneider shifted his talents to Toronto, where he played important games over three seasons and racked up 56 points in 115 appearances. However, as the Maple Leafs entered a rebuilding phase, Schneider’s skills became too valuable, leading to his trade to the New York Rangers in 1998 for Alexander Karpovtsev.
Tomáš Plekanec
This story is a curious one: Tomáš Plekanec, a career Montreal Canadiens forward, was selected by the team in the third round of the 2001 NHL Draft. Over his 14-year tenure, he played 981 games and achieved three impressive 60-point seasons while donning the Canadiens jersey. However, as Montreal struggled and found themselves out of playoff contention, they traded Plekanec to the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second year of the Auston Matthews era.
In return, the Canadiens received a couple of prospects who never really developed, along with a second-round pick that is still playing in Europe. During his time with the Maple Leafs, Plekanec’s impact was minimal; he managed just two assists in 17 regular-season games. However, he stepped up in the playoffs, scoring two goals and totaling four points in a seven-game series against the Boston Bruins, even though the team ultimately lost.
Plekanec’s stint in Toronto was brief, but the sight of him in a turtleneck under a Maple Leafs jersey surely left a bitter taste for many Canadiens fans.
Jacques Plante
When discussing the most iconic goalies in Montreal Canadiens history, it’s hard to overlook Jacques Plante, Patrick Roy, and Ken Dryden—no offense to Carey Price. Plante stands out as a true pioneer of the position, not only renowned for his exceptional skill but also for popularizing the goalie mask, forever changing the game.
During Plante’s tenure in the NHL, the fierce rivalry between Montreal and Toronto reached new heights. He spent 11 seasons wearing the Canadiens’ blue, white, and red, winning six Vezina Trophies and helping the team secure several Stanley Cups. However, as he advanced in age, the team made the decision to trade him to the New York Rangers, where he would finish out a few more seasons before hanging up his skates.
After taking a brief hiatus from the NHL, Plante returned to the ice with the St. Louis Blues. In an unexpected twist, at the age of 42, he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs—much to the dismay of Canadiens fans. Many might assume that his skills would have diminished in his early 40s, but Plante proved otherwise. He maintained his dominance, finishing fifth in Hart Trophy voting in 1971 with an impressive 1.89 GAA and .944 save percentage, showcasing that age was just a number for this legendary goalie.
Plante wrapped up his impressive 106-game career with the Maple Leafs, boasting a solid 48-38-15 record. He recorded a 2.46 goals-against average and an impressive .925 save percentage, placing him 21st on the all-time wins list and tying him for the best save percentage in franchise history. What a remarkable legacy he leaves behind!
