Max Pacioretty 2023-24 Report Card

Last summer the Washington Capitals made a splash by signing Max Pacioretty on the opening day of free agency. Some crtics said it was a bad move considering he ruptured his Achilles tendon. But at a time when the Caps needed to prove themselves and make it back to the big dance that is the playoffs, it was a locker room speech in Janauary.

He finally made his Caps debut on January 3rd against the New Jersey Devils. On the fifth which was a Sunday matinee, Patches as his teammates called him spoke after he scored a crucial goal to help the Caps down the Los Angeles Kings. He received the game puck and said the following:

"That was a rough two years for me boys, and if I learned one thing, it's not to take things for granted. This game proved we have a special group in here and let's make sure we never take that feeling for granted

He was not only talking about his injury from the previous season with the Carolina Hurricanes but also about his time with the Vegas Golden Knights. On draft weekend at The Spehere he got traded once again for draft capital and remains a UFA as we're writing this.

Pacioretty would assist on a goal from Dylan Strome to get on the scoresheet in that contest against the Kings. That would tie the game. It earned him a promotion to the top line next to Strome and Ovechkin and the three scored on their first shift together. It was another Spencer Carbery expirment that succeeded in the moment.

Sadly the story didn't get better for Pacioretty but that power of friendship message was vital. You don't make a speech like that unless you care about your brothers and sisters. The advanced stats aren't good.

His skate speed per NHL edge was 34 percent as the league average by forwards and defenseman was at 34.79. His skating distance was 15.16 kilometers. But again that comes from age and age is a hard thingt to escape from.

Grade C: I can't give Patches a D for that locker room speech. It may have taught you a thing or two as well.