Max Pacioretty’s name is generating attention in the NHL

Max Pacioretty has been unlucky in the past year, suffering two Achilles tendon tears.

His second injury in the space of just a few months ended his season, the former captain of CH being able to play only five games in 2022-2023.

We wondered what his sores meant for the rest of things because Pacioretty is 34 years old. Him, it seems that he wants to continue his career in the NHL…

And currently, his name is generating attention across the league. Frank Seravalli isn’t ruling out a return to Carolina for next season, but he’s also establishing that the 2023 cohort of free agents allows him to be one of the intriguing players on the market.

The main interested party should therefore not have too many problems in order to find a new agreement for next year.

Now it will only remain to see if he is able to stay healthy.

The Flyers, aggressive… But not that much

It surprises me a little to see Daniel Brière saying out loud that we shouldn’t necessarily expect to see the Flyers add another first-round pick to their bank.

Are they trying to bluff everyone?

After all, the club is entering a long reconstruction… And now is the time to liquidate the stock which is still good.

It’s like a garage sale, basically.

On the other hand, the new Flyers GM is right in saying that it takes two people to dance. It’s a fact, and it can be hard to find a dance partner in the NHL.

But, there again… Given that the club will clearly not be making the playoffs in the next few years, it seems that I would have liked to see them be more aggressive in their search for the trade market.

Blake Wheeler in Winnipeg, it may be over

In the NHL, it’s quite rare to see a team remove the captaincy from one of its players… And yet, the Jets did it last year with Blake Wheeler.

The veteran has always said he understands the decision, but in the end, it must always be a bit hard to swallow.

In Winnipeg, it’s unclear what awaits the team in the near future. Pierre-Luc Dubois is on his way out, as is Connor Hellebuyck…

And Mark Scheifele, he will be eligible for full autonomy in the summer of 2024. The chances of seeing him leave are high, it seems… And the same speech applies to Wheeler.

In fact, the former Jets captain and the team are currently working on the possibility of seeing the player bought out. It would be a mutual agreement to allow Wheeler to sign a contract elsewhere, probably to give him the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup before retiring…

Because there is no one who will be interested in trading for his services with his $8.25 million contract next season.

Good veterans will be available this summer

Nick Foligno, Corey Perry, Erik Johnson, Paul Stastny, Zach Parise, Marc Staal, Phil Kessel, Milan Lucic and Ryan Reaves.

These players all have at least something in common. They are aging, but they still have the potential to help an NHL team next season.

We agree, it would be a bit surprising to see these guys sign a new agreement with a team that does not aspire to great honors. Unless you absolutely want to play a role of mentor within a team that is in reconstruction, it just doesn’t make sense.

Often, it is said that veterans are important in a team, especially in the playoffs. The players named above could become low-risk bets for some NHL clubs…

And it’s to be expected that these guys, because of their experience, will receive (at least) a professional invite to some NHL camps.

For those wondering: no, I don’t see one in particular in Montreal… Except maybe Corey Perry, who already loves the city.

A lot of

– Finally!

– That’s saying something.

– It’s a great challenge.

– I can not wait to see it.