Capitals-Canadian | Two operations later, Max Pacioretty hangs on

He is 35 years old. He was operated on twice for the same injury. He has earned some $60 million so far. And he has five children.

Faced with this state of affairs, Max Pacioretty could very well have hung up his skates. After all, he arrives in a not very popular age group in the National League, his financial future is assured and with such a brat, he would not be twiddling his thumbs at home.

But this Saturday at the Bell Center, Pacioretty will indeed occupy a locker in the visitors’ locker room, during the visit of the Washington Capitals.

The former Canadian captain will only play an 18^e match this year, a 23^e in the last two seasons. His last two years have been eventful:

• July 13, 2022: Traded from Golden Knights to Hurricanes;
• August 10, 2022: operated on the right Achilles tendon after an injury suffered in training;
• January 5, 2023: Return to play with the Hurricanes;
• January 19, 2023: He tears his right Achilles tendon again and has surgery a week later;
• 1^er July 2023: He signs a one-year contract with the Capitals, even though he is in rehabilitation;
• January 3, 2024: Return to play

In addition to his two injuries, he therefore had to make two moves, i.e. two changes in living environment for him, his partner and their children aged 1 to 10 years old. For his second operation, he even traveled to Finland, in addition to consulting a doctor in Germany.

Which brings us back to a question debated by many philosophers, including Maripier Morin, over the centuries: but why?

“People will say that the last two years have been hard for my family, but these trials make a family stronger,” he explains, in a telephone interview with The Press. It wasn’t necessarily easy going through that, renting houses, moving, all at a time when I could barely walk or do anything… But it allowed us to spend quality time together. »

Words that echo what Martin St-Louis, his friend through the small world of Connecticut hockey, said about him last week.

“As a parent, when you have obstacles, you wonder how you would like your children to react,” said St-Louis, in Brossard, on February 5. I think that motivates Max, these obstacles. He wants to set an example for his children. »

Happy to play

During his stay in Montreal, Pacioretty inherited the nickname “Wolverine” because he always beat the odds. As a reminder, in 2011, he could have returned to the game less than two months after Zdeno Chara gave him a concussion and a fractured vertebra. On a less dramatic note, in January 2013, he underwent an appendectomy; despite an announced absence of three to four weeks, he returned to action eight days later.

Except that things have gotten complicated in recent years. Going back to the fall of 2021, he has played in just 61 out of 216 games, or 28.2% of his teams’ games.

He now has 17 games on the clock this season and has collected eight points, including just one goal. His performance last week against the Canadian, during which he was the most threatening Washingtonian, reminds us that he has regained a certain level. But between that and becoming again the one point per game scorer he was two years ago, there is a margin. Remember that during the shortened 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons, he was 10^e in the NHL with 56 goals, 20^e with 117 points.

This is why Pacioretty hits the brakes when asked if the plateau of 1,000 games (he is at 872) or the prospect of a first Stanley Cup serves as motivation for him.

“It’s much too far,” replied the American. I’m really happy with what I’ve accomplished to get back into the game, but it hasn’t been easy and it still isn’t. I still have a lot to do before I feel completely confident and secure.

“But at the end of the day, you always want to accomplish as much as you can, and I hope to accomplish all of that one day.” »

St-Louis, the “captain”

Back when the two spent their summers in Connecticut, Pacioretty and Martin St-Louis were part of the same summer training group.

Pacioretty isn’t sure of the exact years, but believes he started being around St. Louis around 2008, when the then No. 1 overall pick^er tour of the Canadian was only 19 years old. St. Louis had 33.

“Looking back, I realize today how competitive he was in the summer,” notes Pacioretty. I haven’t known many players of this age with such a level. »

What did he learn from little number 26? “The work, the sacrifices, the commitment, all the clichés it takes to be one of the best. He never had an excuse to avoid working harder. I was never his teammate, but the training squad was like a team and he was the captain. »

Pacioretty also describes a St. Louis that looks a lot like the one fans have been listening to in daily press briefings for two years.

“I loved listening to his opinions on players, sticks, concepts. I loved asking him questions because he always had non-traditional answers. He made up his own mind, which is rare in our sport. Everyone sees things the same way, but he is swimming against the tide. »

Would Pacioretty like to be managed by St. Louis one day? He doesn’t respond directly.

The two men have not seen each other for a while, since Pacioretty is now based in Florida in the summer. But they remain in contact by messaging.

“We mainly talk about minor hockey. It’s a good resource because with my children I’m starting to experience what he experienced with his three boys. I still remember the summers when Martin played in Tampa, when I skated with his son Ryan, who was very little. And there he is in college. It goes by so quickly! »