For Pacioretty, The Road Back Has Been An Emotional One. He's Looking To Make It Count With The Capitals: 'This Is What I Was Born To Do'

For the last year and change, Max Pacioretty spent the majority of his time laying in bed, wondering what was next. All he knew was hockey, and that was taken away when he retore his Achilles tendon just five games into his return from an initial tear. Now, nearly a year later, he's making his Washington Capitals debut — and he has his life back.

Pacioretty will play in his first game since the injury on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils, and for the 35-year-old, the long road back has all been worth it.

"It's been fun. 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."

The six-time 30-goal scorer had several questions following his injury, visiting doctors all around the world to uncover the reason why he tore the same tendon twice in a span of five months. It was difficult to get answers, though, as Pacioretty questioned whether or not he'd ever play again.

It took its mental toll as he lay in bed; all he knew was hockey, and it appeared that could very well be taken away from him.

However, he found his spark and motivation to work his way back in his five children.

"Obviously, my family and my kids and my wife and my parents have been tremendous support, and you realize how much you want to do this for them," Pacioretty said. "It's not just for me to go out there and play hockey and do what I love; it's for them as well. My kids, all the boys play hockey. They want to see dad get back out there and that's what I'm working towards."

So, he got up and started to put in the work again and ended up signing a one-year deal to make his comeback with Washington. Fast forward to now, and he feels like a different player on and off the ice.

"Just growing up a bit," Pacioretty said of what he learned while rehabilitating. "I think you realize what's important to you. Not to say you don't realize it before, but it kind of hits home a little bit harder when you're laying in bed for almost a year straight."

In the end, Pacioretty said he's feeling healthy, and that he's excited to take the ice with a group like the Capitals.

"We'll see what happens. Just taking it one day at a time, and we're heading in the right direction," he said, adding of Washington, "It's a special group. Coming back after such a long period of time you want it to be with a group like that, it makes it even more special."

The Hockey News' Stefen Rosner contributed to this feature.