Pacioretty (Achilles) is still at least two weeks away from returning, but he has been skating regularly, per Tom Gulitti of NHL.com on Wednesday.
Pacioretty hasn't played since Jan. 19 because of the injury and logged just five contests in 2022-23. Even when the 35-year-old does return, it might take time for him to shake off the rust, though there's a good chance he'll get an opportunity to serve in a top-six role. Pacioretty has also excelled in recent years when healthy, contributing 78 goals and 157 points in 163 contests from 2019-20 through 2022-23.
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Capitals' Max Pacioretty: Skating occasionally
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Pacioretty (Achilles) has skated three times over the past couple weeks, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Pacioretty hasn't played since Jan. 19 because of his Achilles injury, but he still believes he'll be back, telling Gulitti, "I do know 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." There's still no clear timeline for Pacioretty's return, but the fact that he hasn't begun to skate on a regular basis yet doesn't bode well for his availability in the near future.
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Capitals' Max Pacioretty: Still not skating
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Pacioretty (Achilles) has yet to resume skating though coach Spencer Carbery told reporters he would begin "soon" Friday, per Tom Gulitti of NHL.com.
Pacioretty started the year on long-term injured reserve and isn't expected to return during the first month of the season, but he appears to be trending in the right direction. Even once he starts skating, the veteran winger will likely need some significant practice time before he'll be in contention to take a spot in the lineup.
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Capitals' Max Pacioretty: Goes on LTIR
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Pacioretty (Achilles) was put on long-term injured reserve Monday.
Pacioretty will miss at least the first 10 games and 24 days of the 2023-24 season. An exact timeline for his return remains unclear, but head coach Spencer Carbery said during the summer that Pacioretty could end up missing the first month or two of the upcoming campaign. Pacioretty signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Capitals in July after being limited to just five games with Carolina last season.
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Capitals' Max Pacioretty: Timeline unclear
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Pacioretty (Achilles) is not expected to be available for the start of the 2023-24 season, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Pacioretty has suffered two torn Achilles tendons since the summer of 2022. Washington head coach Spencer Carbery told NHL.com on Aug. 22 that he doesn't have an exact timetable for Pacioretty's return, but the 34-year-old winger may end up missing the first month or two of the 2023-24 campaign. Pacioretty was limited to just five games last season with Carolina, scoring three goals and posting 16 shots on net. He signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Capitals in July.
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Capitals' Max Pacioretty: Signs with Washington
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Pacioretty (Achilles) signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Capitals on Saturday.
Pacioretty is coming off an injury-plagued 2022 campaign, scoring three goals in just five games, capped by a torn Achilles in January. Still, the 34-year-old winger is just two seasons removed from a 51-point campaign, making it an intriguing upside signing for the Caps. If healthy, Pacioretty should be firmly in the mix for a somewhat important role for his new team.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Shifts to LTIR
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Pacioretty (Achilles) was transferred to long-term injured reserve Saturday, per CapFriendly.
Pacioretty isn't expected back before the end of the regular season, though the Hurricanes haven't specified a return timeline for the winger. He tore his Achilles for a second time in less than a year during a game Jan. 19 versus the Wild. His placement on LTIR opens up some cap flexibility for the Hurricanes in advance of the trade deadline, which may allow them to add a top-six-caliber forward to replace Pacioretty.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Suffers torn Achilles
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Pacioretty tore his Achilles against Minnesota on Thursday.
The team hasn't announced a timeline for Pacioretty's recovery but it doesn't seem likely that he'll play again this season. Assuming he doesn't return, the veteran winger appeared in just five games this season after returning from Achilles surgery in August. Pacioretty has been limited to 92 regular season games since the start of the 2020-21 campaign.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Placed on injured reserve list
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Pacioretty (lower body) was put on the injured reserve list Friday.
Pacioretty appeared to sustain the injury late in Thursday's 5-2 win against Minnesota. He's scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, so more information might be disclosed after that. Pacioretty has three goals and no assists in five contests this season.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Set to undergo MRI
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Pacioretty (lower body) will undergo an MRI on Monday, Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News and Observer reports.
Pacioretty's MRI was evidently pushed to Monday to "allow things to settle down," which would seem to suggest he's likely dealing with some swelling and could be facing an extended absence. At this point it isn't clear if this latest injury is related to the Achilles injury Pacioretty suffered that required surgery in August. Check back for an update on Pacioretty, who's picked up three goals through five games this season, prior to Wednesday's matchup with Dallas.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Exits in final minute
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Pacioretty sustained what appeared to be a non-contact lower-body injury in the final minute of Thursday's game versus the Wild, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Given how late the injury occurred, it's unlikely there will be an update on Pacioretty's status following the contest. The winger missed nearly three months while recovering from an Achilles injury, and he grabbed at the same leg that he hurt previously. There should be an update on the winger prior to Saturday's game versus the Islanders.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Set to return against Wild
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Pacioretty (lower body) is slated to play versus Minnesota on Thursday, per NHL.com.
Pacioretty has played in just four games this season due to various injuries, registering three goals on 13 shots in his four contests. If the veteran winger can stay healthy, he should be capable of offering top-end fantasy upside, especially if he links back up with the No. 1 power-play unit as expected.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Ruled out Sunday
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Pacioretty won't play in Sunday's contest with the Canucks, per Chip Alexander of The Raleigh News & Observer.
Pacioretty will miss a second contest after suffering a lower-body injury Thursday against Columbus. The 34-year-old winger has three goals in four games this year after missing the first three months of the season following Achilles surgery in the offseason. Pacioretty's next chance to play will be Thursday against the Wild.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Out Saturday
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Pacioretty (lower body) won't play Saturday and is doubtful to return Sunday, per Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site.
Pacioretty won't play Saturday against Pittsburgh and will likely miss a second game Sunday against Vancouver. According to head coach Rod Brind'Amour, Pacioretty's injury doesn't seem to be overly serious, which would set him up to return Thursday against Minnesota.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Not practicing Saturday
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Pacioretty (lower body) is not at practice Saturday, according to Walt Ruff of the Hurricanes' official site.
Pacioretty left Thursday's game versus Columbus in the first period and did not return. He is doubtful to play Saturday against Pittsburgh. Pacioretty has played only four games this season, as he missed the first 38 games while recovering from Achilles tendon surgery in August. Pacioretty has three goals in four games this season.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Suffers lower-body injury
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Pacioretty left Thursday's game with a lower-body injury and won't return.
Pacioretty, who logged 3:02 of ice time Thursday, was playing in just his fourth game since recovering from an Achilles injury. If there's a silver lining, it's that Pacioretty's new injury isn't related to his old one. Going into Thursday's action, he had three goals in three contests this season.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Scores in back-to-back games
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Pacioretty scored a goal on five shots in the Hurricanes' 5-3 loss to New Jersey on Tuesday.
Pacioretty scored the second Hurricane goal of the game, flipping the puck off Yegor Sharangovich and into the net. This performance gives Pacioretty goals in back-to-back games and three goals in three games on the season. He should continue to be a major scoring threat with a huge role in a talented Hurricanes offense.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Scores first two as a Hurricane
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Pacioretty scored two goals on two shots in the Hurricanes' 4-3 shootout loss to the Blue Jackets on Saturday.
In his second game back from an Achilles injury, Pacioretty scored his first two goals as a member of the Hurricanes, with his second goal coming on the power play. Pacioretty was close to a point-per-game player over the previous three seasons, so he's expected to contribute significantly once he shakes off the rust. He's already skating in a top-six role and on the top power-play unit.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Records six shots in return
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Pacioretty (Achilles) had a minus-1 rating in Carolina's 5-3 loss to Nashville on Thursday.
Pacioretty was playing in his first game of the 2022-23 campaign because of the injury. He had six shots and two hits in 16:06 of ice time. Although the 34-year-old was held off the scoresheet, it was encouraging to see him record that many shots and play in a significant role after such a lengthy absence.
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Hurricanes' Max Pacioretty: Set to make season debut
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Pacioretty (Achilles) is expected to play Thursday versus Nashville.
Pacioretty missed Carolina's first 38 games of the season because of the injury. He's expected to be an important part of the Hurricanes' forward core, but it might take some time for him to get going after missing so much of the campaign. The 34-year-old had 19 goals and 37 points in 39 games with Vegas in 2021-22. Rather than play on a specific line in his season debut, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour suggested Pacioretty might "bounce around" Thursday, per Cory Lavalette of the North State Journal.
