Veteran forward Max Pacioretty, who served as 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.
Pacioretty, who began his hockey journey at the University of Michigan in the 2007-08 season before transitioning to the professional league, has now joined the Wolverines men’s hockey program as a special assistant to the head coach.
Originally selected by the Canadiens in the first round of the 2007 NHL draft, Pacioretty later became the 29th captain in the team’s history for the 2014-15 season. Following a decade with Montreal, he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018 in exchange for a package that included current Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki.
Throughout his career, Pacioretty accumulated 448 points from 626 regular-season games with the Canadiens, along with 19 points in playoff contests. After brief stints with Carolina and Washington, he joined the Maple Leafs on a professional tryout in the 2024-25 season and successfully secured a spot on the roster.
Despite facing injuries and roster challenges during the season, Pacioretty managed to contribute 13 points, showcasing his scoring prowess especially during the playoffs where he tallied three goals and five assists in 11 games.
A native of New Canaan, Conn., the 36-year-old achieved the 30-goal mark six times in his career, amassing a total of 335 goals and 346 assists in regular-season play, as well as 28 goals and 30 assists in playoff appearances. Noteworthy accolades include being an all-star with Vegas in 2020 and winning the Bill Masterton Trophy with the Canadiens in 2012.
Expressing his gratitude and excitement for the future, Pacioretty stated, “After 17 seasons in the NHL, I’m thrilled to embark on this new chapter with Michigan Hockey. I’m deeply appreciative of my teammates, coaches, and fans who have supported me throughout my journey. Hockey has been a rewarding experience for me, and now I look forward to contributing to the development of the next generation of players.”
