Photo: Twitter/@Capitals

Another new face was spotted at MedStar Capitals Iceplex on Wednesday morning. Washington Capitals forward Max Pacioretty brought his family to the Caps’ practice facility and watched three of his five children skate on the ice. 

Welcoming a new addition to the #CapsDads crew! pic.twitter.com/Rbaxx2xTuX

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 30, 2023

The Capitals signed the veteran Pacioretty to a one-year, $2 million contract on the first day of NHL free agency with the hopes he can recapture his scoring touch after skating in just five games last season with the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Unfortunately the 34-year-old will not start the season for Washington as he is still recovering from an Achilles’ tear he sustained last year. It was the second time he banged up his right Achilles’ tendon. 

“Whether it’s in the November timeframe or December, whenever he’s healthy and ready to go,” Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery said in an interview with NHL.com. “I think it gives us a great asset in Max to be able to, partway into the season, potentially give us a real jolt offensively in our top six, someone who can help us on the power play, someone who has proven time and time again that they can find ways to score, which is something that is coveted around the league.”

Washington scored 3.09 goals per game, which was ranked 20th in the NHL. The former first-round pick has proven over the years to be a consistent 20 to 30 goal-scorer. 

Over his 15-year NHL career, the New Canaan, Conn., native has scored 30 goals six times. His career high came in the 2013-14 season, where he was one tally short of reaching the 40-goal plateau. The last time he hit the 30-goal mark was in the 2019-20 campaign with the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Despite all the injuries the 6”2’ forward has dealt with, Pacioretty believes he can return to form when he makes his Caps debut. 

“At the end of the day, I just thought that Washington was a great opportunity for me to come back and prove that I’m still the player that I once was and I’m capable of coming back and scoring goals,” Pacioretty said.

By Jacob Cheris