Pacioretty Could Put A Charge in Hurricanes’ Offense

When Max Pacioretty tore his Achilles a month after being acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes last summer, the team’s general manager Don Waddell predicted that when he was ready to play it would feel like he was a major “trade deadline acquisition.”

“He could be the kind of addition we need at the end,” Waddell said.

Today, Waddell’s words seem prophetic with Pacioretty expected to make his Hurricanes debut in a home game against the Nashville Predators.

The Hurricanes are No. 2 overall in the NHL standings with an offense ranked 19th. Pacioretty, 34, has scored 30 or more goals six times in an NHL career that has included stops with the Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights. He is the proven scorer that the Hurricanes may need in the postseason.

Waddell took advantage of the Golden Knights’ salary cap stress to land Pacioretty, along with Dylan Coghlan, for nothing. Actually, it was for “future considerations.” That’s hockey-speak for nothing. Pacioretty is a $7 million cap hit that the Golden Knights could no longer tolerate in their salary cap.

In addition, Waddell acquired bullish impact defenseman Brent Burns from the San Jose Sharks with the idea that those two players could push the ‘Canes over the top. 

His scheming was short-circuited when Pacioretty was injured during a routine training exercise. “It was something he had done a thousand times before,” Waddell said.

At the time, the prognosis was he would return in February. But Pacioretty is set to go a month ahead of schedule.

He’s joining a Hurricanes squad that is right where Waddell expected it to be at this time. Boasting arguably the league’s top defensive corps, the Hurricanes are 15-1-1 in their last 17 games. They are considered a primary Stanley Cup contender. 

Pacioretty could be exactly what they need to put more wattage in their offensive charge.

🥇🥈🥉 The World Junior Championship medal round is set: 🇨🇦 Canada will face off against 🇨🇿 Czechia at 6:30 PM ET today to battle for the gold medal. Czechia handed team Canada their only loss of the tournament back on December 26th. And 🇺🇸 the United States and 🇸🇪 Sweden will play each other for the first time this tournament for the bronze medal at 2:30 PM ET.

🌟 NHL increases fan input on All-Star Game rosters. During ESPN's broadcast of the Caps vs. Blue Jackets tonight, the NHL will announce the first 32 All-Stars — one representative from each team, including four goalies (one from each division). Then the NHL will open voting Thursday for fans to select 12 players — two skaters and one goalie from each division — to complete the 44-man roster for the All-Star Skills and All-Star Game.

• Kaprizov nets pair, Wild stay hot in win over Lightning

• Gibson makes 35 saves, Ducks shut out Stars

• Vanecek makes 32 saves in near shutout as Devils roll past Red Wings

• Sleepless Boudreau changes tune, takes accountability for Canucks' recent struggles

• Is William Nylander worth north of $10 million per season?

• Vesey agrees to 2-year, $1.6 million contract with Rangers

• Why Connor Bedard Could Have A Crosby-like Impact On The NHL

• Senators nod to fan Ryan Reynolds with Deadpool mask

• Longest active tenured players by NHL team

• 🏆 Top 10 NHL goals of 2022 according to The Hockey News

• 🚨 Kaprizov with a sick tip for his first goal last night

• ⏲ Jack Hughes displays incredible hands and patience before banking one in

• 🇨🇿 Sabres 1st-rounder Jiri Kulich scores OT winner to send Czechia to gold medal game 

• 🍝 McTavish one-times Zegras' beautiful cross ice saucer pass

• 🚫 Jackson Blake of USA ties the game at 3-3 only to have it questionably disallowed

• 🤔 Zegras loses stick, steals Kiviranta's, then doesn't agree with illegal stick penalty

• Finnish Half-Ice Drill

• Mohawks (10 & 2's, Crosby edges) for passing and fake passing drill

• 3 Best Hockey Stretches