The Capitals will be eager to get No. 67 in the lineup to provide a boost on offense.
WASHINGTON — After nearly a year and questions of whether or not his career will continue following a second torn Achilles, Max Pacioretty is ready to return, and he'll do so with the Washington Capitals.
Per the NHL media site, Pacioretty has been activated off the long-term injured reserve, indicating he will play against the New Jersey Devils. As a corresponding roster move, Charlie Lindgren has been placed on the IR.
It will mark Pacioretty's first NHL game since re-tearing his Achilles on Jan. 19, 2023, when he was just five games into his return from his initial tear and skating with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The six-time 30-goal scorer is looking forward to making his return to play, especially after doubts had crept in regarding whether or not he'd be able to skate at the NHL level again as he struggled to find an explanation for the re-injury. He had spent a lot of time in bed before getting back into rehabilitating and working his way back.
"This is what I've done for 30 years of my life, so you know, when I wasn't doing it, I was missing it," Pacioretty said. "Makes you realize how much you love the game and I'm definitely enjoying it right now, even just being a part of practices and bag skates and whatnot. You realize this is what I was born to do, so just enjoying it."
Pacioretty signed a one-year, $2 million contract to join the Capitals on the opening day of free agency.