NHL Veteran May Be Forced To Retire After Massive Injury

PUBLICATION

Hunter Bowman
November 8, 2023 (4:51)

SHARE THIS STORY

After suffering two devastating Achilles tendon injuries within a year, NHL veteran Max Pacioretty faced the grim possibility of his career coming to an end.

Last season with the Carolina Hurricanes, the 34-year-old forward endured a challenging time, playing only five games for the team after being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights. Not only did he watch his team from the stands throughout the season, but he also had to witness his former team celebrating a Stanley Cup victory. It was a tough pill to swallow.

However, Pacioretty signed a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals during the offseason with hopes of rejuvenating his career. Although he's still nursing his injury and has yet to hit the ice for the Capitals, he remains optimistic about his NHL future.

«I feel like we have a really good grasp as to what happened in the past and what we need to do in the present and the future for me to continue my career,» Pacioretty expressed in an interview with NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. «I do know that I have a lot of hockey left in me. There was a time where maybe I wasn't as confident in that, a time where I didn't know if I'd play hockey ever again, but I'm coming to the rink every day thinking that this could be my last day here and just enjoying it.»

Pacioretty has been back on the ice, skating on his own in recent weeks, fueling hope for a return to action this season.

«I feel like I'm getting my life back,» Pacioretty said. «I've only skated three times, but this is what I was born to do, so it feels like some normalcy in my life, and definitely have much more of a smile on my face now that I'm skating.»

Regarding his potential return, he remains patient, saying,

«A lot of that is out of my hands. Really taking it one skate and one day at a time. Good news is I've responded well to being out there, and whether that means we ramp things up quickly or slowly, that's kind of out of my control. So I'm just listening to what I'm being told in terms of that while giving feedback with how I feel, and the only thing I can say, the good news, is that I've responded really well to everything up to this point.»

Pacioretty has pulled through difficult times and now sees light at the end of the tunnel, emphasizing the importance of continuing for his family. He firmly believes there's more hockey left in the tank and expressed,

«I know I have so much more hockey in the tank. I'm a different person when I'm out there skating, even if it's for 15 minutes without pucks. This is what I was born to do, and I want to do this as long as I can.»

Source: Hockeyfeed