Max Pacioretty facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Max Pacioretty |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
Pacioretty with the Vegas Golden Knights in October 2018
|
|||
| Born | November 20, 1988 New Canaan, Connecticut, U.S. |
||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 217 lb (98 kg; 15 st 7 lb) | ||
| Position | Left wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Free Agent Montreal Canadiens HC Ambrì-Piotta Vegas Golden Knights Carolina Hurricanes Washington Capitals Toronto Maple Leafs |
||
| National team |  United States |
||
| NHL Draft | 22nd overall, 2007 Montreal Canadiens |
||
| Playing career | 2008–present | ||
Maximillian Kolenda Pacioretty (born November 20, 1988) is an American professional ice hockey player. He plays as a left winger. He is currently a free agent, meaning he is not signed with any team.
Pacioretty was chosen by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 22nd player picked overall. He later became the captain of the Canadiens for his last three seasons with the team. He scored 30 or more goals in five of his seasons in Montreal.
Before the 2018–19 NHL season, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. This move helped his career, but four seasons later, he was traded again. This time, he went to the Carolina Hurricanes because of salary cap issues with the Golden Knights.
Contents
Max Pacioretty's Hockey Journey
Early Years and College Hockey
When Max Pacioretty was young, he played in a big youth hockey tournament in Quebec in 2002. He played for a New York Rangers youth team.
He played high school hockey in Connecticut, where he was a top scorer. Later, he played junior hockey for the Sioux City Musketeers in the United States Hockey League (USHL).
After that season, the Montreal Canadiens picked him in the 2007 NHL Draft. He then played college hockey for the University of Michigan. He scored 15 goals and 38 points in 36 games during the 2007–08 season. In July 2008, Pacioretty signed his first professional contract with the Canadiens.
Starting in the NHL with Montreal
Pacioretty played his first NHL game with the Canadiens on January 2, 2009. He scored his first NHL goal with his very first shot! He was also the first player in Montreal's long history to wear jersey number 67.
In March 2011, Pacioretty had a serious injury during a game. He was hit by a player from the Boston Bruins and crashed into a part of the rink. He suffered a concussion and a neck injury. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher.
It was a scary moment, but Pacioretty worked hard to recover. He was able to start the next season, the 2011–12 season, with the Canadiens. He had a great comeback year, leading his team in points with 33 goals and 32 assists. He also won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. This award is given to a player who shows great determination and dedication to hockey. He even scored his first "hat-trick" (three goals in one game) in February 2012.
In August 2012, Pacioretty signed a new six-year contract with the Canadiens. During an NHL player lockout in 2012, he played a few games in Switzerland.
In February 2014, Pacioretty made history by being awarded two penalty shots in the same game. He was the first Canadien to do this. Even though he missed both penalty shots, he still scored a hat trick in that game!
In September 2014, he was named an alternate captain for the Canadiens. Then, in September 2015, his teammates voted for him to become the 29th captain in the team's history. This is a big honor in hockey.
.jpg)
The 2017–18 NHL season was tough for the Canadiens and for Pacioretty. He had fewer points than in previous years. He also had a knee injury in March 2018, which kept him out for several weeks.
Before his contract ended, there were talks about trading Pacioretty. He even turned down a trade to the Los Angeles Kings. In August 2018, it became clear that he would likely leave the Canadiens.
Moving to Vegas and Carolina
On September 10, 2018, Pacioretty was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. In return, the Canadiens received players Tomáš Tatar and Nick Suzuki, plus a draft pick. Pacioretty then signed a new four-year contract with the Golden Knights.
He returned to Montreal to play against his old team on November 10, 2018. The Canadiens showed a video tribute for him, and the fans gave him a standing ovation. He finished that season with 22 goals and 18 assists. He also played well in the playoffs.
Pacioretty played four seasons with the Golden Knights, scoring 97 goals. He was a very important part of their offense. In the 2021-22 NHL season, he had some injuries, including a broken wrist and foot, which limited him to only 39 games.
On July 13, 2022, the Golden Knights traded Pacioretty to the Carolina Hurricanes. This trade helped Vegas manage their team salary.
Soon after joining the Hurricanes, Pacioretty suffered a serious injury to his Achilles tendon during a workout. This meant he needed surgery and missed the first few months of the 2022-23 NHL season. He finally played his first game for Carolina on January 5, 2023. He even scored two goals in his second game! However, he tore his Achilles again on January 19, which ended his season.
Later Career: Washington and Toronto
After his contract with the Hurricanes ended, Pacioretty signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals on July 1, 2023. He missed some time at the start of the 2023–24 NHL season due to his second Achilles injury. He made his debut with Washington on January 3, 2024.
Despite his team's struggles, the Capitals made it to the playoffs in 2024. Pacioretty played in 47 regular season games and all 4 playoff games for Washington. He contributed 23 points during the regular season.
In late August 2024, rumors started that Pacioretty might join the Toronto Maple Leafs. On September 11, the Maple Leafs officially announced that he would attend their training camp. After the preseason, Pacioretty signed a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs on October 7, 2024. He scored the team's first goal of the 2024–25 season on October 10, in a win against the New Jersey Devils.
Max Pacioretty's Life Outside Hockey
.JPG)
Max Pacioretty is married to Katia Afinogenova. Her brother, Maxim Afinogenov, is also a former NHL player. Max and Katia got married in July 2011. They have four sons and one daughter.
Max's grandmother on his father's side is French-Canadian from Montreal. His mother is of Mexican background. She wasn't familiar with ice skating, but she took Max to a rink when he was a child because he had a lot of energy! His paternal grandfather's family comes from Italy.
In March 2015, the fast-food chain McDonald's even created a special burger called the "Max 67" burger. It was only sold in their restaurants in Quebec, Canada.
Awards and Honors
Max Pacioretty has received several awards during his hockey career:
- All-CCHA Rookie Team: 2008 (College hockey award)
- Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: 2012 (NHL award for perseverance and dedication)
- NHL All-Star Game: 2020 (Selected to play in the league's annual showcase game)
