Veteran forward Max Pacioretty, known for his tenure as captain of the Montreal Canadiens and his most recent season with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2024-25, has officially retired from the NHL after a remarkable 17-year career.
The University of Michigan, where Pacioretty played during the 2007-08 season before turning professional, announced on Tuesday that he would be joining the Wolverines men’s hockey program as a special assistant to the head coach.
Pacioretty, a first-round pick (22nd overall) by the Canadiens in the 2007 NHL draft, went on to become the 29th captain in the team’s history in the 2014-15 season.
Following a decade with the Canadiens, Pacioretty was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in September 2018, in a deal that saw current Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki head the other way. During his time in Montreal, Pacioretty amassed 448 points, including 226 goals and 222 assists in 626 regular-season games, along with 19 points in 38 playoff appearances.
After short stints with Carolina and Washington, Pacioretty eventually landed with the Maple Leafs on a professional tryout for the 2024-25 season, making the team after a successful training camp.
Despite a season marked by injuries and lineup changes, Pacioretty managed to contribute 13 points, comprised of five goals and eight assists. His performance notably improved during the playoffs, where he notched three goals and five assists in 11 games after initially being sidelined.
Hailing from New Canaan, Connecticut, the 36-year-old Pacioretty achieved the 30-goal milestone six times throughout his career. He tallied a total of 335 goals and 346 assists in 939 regular-season games, as well as 28 goals and 30 assists in 89 playoff appearances.
Pacioretty was named an all-star with Vegas in 2020 and received the Bill Masterton Trophy with the Canadiens in 2012, following a season cut short in March 2011 due to a neck fracture and concussion from a hit by Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara.
Expressing his gratitude, Pacioretty stated in a release by the Wolverines, “After 17 seasons in the NHL, I’m thrilled to embark on this new journey with Michigan Hockey. I am deeply appreciative of the teammates, coaches, and fans who have been part of my career. Hockey has been incredibly rewarding for me, and now I have the chance to contribute to the development of future players.”
