Canadiens Linked To Reunion With Former Team Captain

Current NHL free agent and veteran forward Max Pacioretty is on the verge of making a decision on his next team, with three offers in hand from the Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, and Buffalo Sabres. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff, the 34-year-old winger is considering his options, with a return to Montreal emerging as a strong possibility if only for their past together.

“Max Pacioretty has firm offers in-hand from at least three teams,” Seravalli wrote on X. “The veteran forward expected to make a decision soon.” For the Canadiens, however, bringing back Pacioretty would be more than just a nostalgic move. The team is still in the middle of a rebuilding phase and adding a proven goal scorer like Pacioretty could address one of their most pressing needs-offense. Pacioretty served as Montreal’s team captain for several years spanning from the 2015-16 season through the end of the 2017-18 campaign.

After that season, however, the Habs traded the forward to the Vegas Golden Knights. He went on to play for the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals after that, spending the last two seasons with those two teams, one year in each. Perhaps the biggest hurdle for a reunion between the Habs and Pacioretty is the recent addition of Patrik Laine via trade, adding some firepower to their lineup and perhaps everything Montreal needs for next season. While the San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres are also in the mix, the allure of returning to Montreal-where Pacioretty made his mark as one of the league’s top goal scorers-to lead their rebuilding as the veteran face of the team might be enough for him to re-sign with the Habs.