The marriage between Max Pacioretty and the Carolina Hurricanes is anything but happy and the veteran could well lift the veils during the summer, when he will take advantage of the National Hockey League free agent market.
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The “Canes” had bad luck getting their hands on the 34-year-old skater through a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights in July. The former captain of the Montreal Canadiens suffered two Achilles tendon tears in a few months: first in August, during his pre-season preparation, then during a game against the Minnesota Wild in January. He played only five games with Carolina and nothing suggests that he will play more, since his name remains on the long-term injured list.
Torn by physical glitches for a few years, Pacioretty completes a four-year and $28 million pact. If he is well recovered and ready to try his luck in 2023-2024, his next contract will be much less profitable. Moreover, the Daily Faceoff site journalist, Frank Seravalli, believes that the American could be attractive to some organizations, including the Edmonton Oilers, at a reduced cost.
“You can hire a 35+ player on a minimum wage contract and then add performance bonuses; these do not count on the payroll, reminded the hockey expert to the Oilersnation site. You have the option of only deducting $775,000 from the mass and the bonuses, regardless of which ones, can be found on that of the following year.
An opening in the employment contract?
“Also, we don’t often talk about what applies to Pacioretty and other cripples. In the collective agreement, there is a clause allowing all this for players under the age of 35 who have suffered a long-term injury and are eligible for full autonomy, he added. This is possible if the hockey player has totaled 400 or more games in the National League and missed more than 100 days due to injury.
If Oilers general manager Ken Holland is tempted by the idea, the left-winger could have the opportunity to play alongside Connor McDavid, who leads the Bettman circuit with 143 points this season, as well as Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who have 116 and 96 respectively.