Photo: Stathead Hockey
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Washington Capitals have signed unrestricted free agent left-wing Max Pacioretty to a one-year, $2 million contract, which also includes a $2 million bonus if the 34-year-old meets an unknown games-played mark. The deal also contains a no-movement clause.
Pacioretty was limited to just five games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season as he tore his Achilles twice but earned three goals.
Last time we saw Pacioretty (signed 1x$2M by WSH) play more than 5 games, he was an elite scorer and chance creator. Let’s see what he is now. #AllCaps pic.twitter.com/KvQK8GbtFe
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2023
Pacioretty has hit the 30-goal and 60-point marks six times, respectively, in his 15-season NHL career. In 855 career regular-season games with Carolina, the Montreal Canadiens, and Vegas Golden Knights, Pacioretty has tallied 326 goals and 645 points. He also has earned 25 goals and 49 points in 74 postseason outings.
Pacioretty was also limited to just 39 games with Vegas in 2021-22 due to multiple injuries.
Washington needed scoring help entering the opening of free agency on Saturday after getting held to an average of just 3.09 goals-per-game (20th) and only converting at a 21.2% efficiency on the power play (NHL average). Among Vegas skaters to appear in at least 35 games during his tenure from 2018-22, Pacioretty ranked third in power-play ice time per game (2:36).
Washington now has $3,563,333 in NHL salary cap space with 11 forwards, six defenseman, and two goaltenders under contract for the 2023-24 season. The team could look to add one more upgrade to their top-six forward group.
Pacioretty said he won’t be ready for the #Caps‘ season opener as he rehabs a twice-torn Achilles. But he hopes to be ready not too long after that.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) July 1, 2023
By Harrison Brown