Veteran forward Max Pacioretty, who served as the captain of the Montreal Canadiens for three seasons and played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2024-25 season, has officially retired from the NHL after a successful 17-year career.
The University of Michigan, where Pacioretty played during the 2007-08 season before transitioning to the professional league, announced on Tuesday that he would be joining the Wolverines men’s hockey program as a special assistant to the head coach.
Pacioretty was drafted by the Canadiens in the first round, 22nd overall, in the 2007 NHL draft. He later became the 29th captain in Canadiens history at the start of the 2014-15 season.
Following his tenure in Montreal, Pacioretty was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in September 2018 in a deal that involved current Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki. Throughout his time with the Canadiens, he amassed 448 points (226 goals, 222 assists) in 626 regular-season games and contributed 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in 38 playoff appearances.
After brief stints with Carolina and Washington post his time in Vegas, Pacioretty joined the Maple Leafs on a professional tryout ahead of the 2024-25 season. Despite facing injuries and roster challenges, he managed to secure a spot on the team and recorded 13 points (five goals, eight assists) during the season. He particularly shined in the playoffs, scoring three goals and providing five assists in 11 games after initially sitting out.
The 36-year-old hailing from New Canaan, Connecticut, achieved the 30-goal milestone six times in his career. Over 939 regular-season games, he accumulated 335 goals and 346 assists, along with 28 goals and 30 assists in 89 playoff appearances.
Pacioretty was named an all-star during his time with Vegas in 2020 and was also the recipient of the Bill Masterton Trophy with the Canadiens in 2012. This award followed a challenging 2010-11 season when his play was cut short due to a neck fracture and a grade 2 concussion from a hit by Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara.
Expressing his sentiments, Pacioretty stated in a released statement by the Wolverines, “After 17 seasons in the NHL, I’m thrilled to embark on this new chapter with Michigan Hockey. I am immensely grateful for the support of my teammates, coaches, and fans throughout my journey. Hockey has been a significant part of my life, and now I look forward to contributing to the development of future players.”