Max Pacioretty joins University of Michigan hockey staff

Max Pacioretty is beginning a new chapter in his hockey career, as after 17 season in the NHL, he will be joining the University of Michigan’s hockey staff, which the school announced on Tuesday.

Pacioretty was an unrestricted free agent after the conclusion of his one-year, $873,770 contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. According to a report from TheLeafsNation’s Nick Alberga yesterday, Pacioretty had received interest from multiple teams over the summer, but has ultimately decided to pursue this option instead. There were reports in the summer that he was mostly interested in playing close to his family in Michigan, so it appears that the interested teams were not within that area.

Pacioretty will be working with the University of Michigan as a special assistant to the head coach.

“After 17 seasons in the NHL, I’m excited to begin this next chapter with Michigan Hockey,” said Pacioretty in the statement released by the University of Michigan. “I’m so thankful for the teammates, coaches and fans who have been a part of my journey. Hockey has given me so much, and now I have the opportunity to help develop the next generation of players. Michigan has a tradition of producing elite talent, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned to help these guys grow on and off the ice. Just as important, this next step allows me to be closer to my family and spend more time with my kids. I’m going to be coaching my four boys in youth hockey and that’s something I’ll really cherish as a dad.”

Pacioretty spent one season with the University of Michigan in 2007-08 prior to beginning his NHL career.

Pacioretty had five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 37 regular season games with the Maple Leafs last season, and three goals and five assists for eight points in 11 playoff games, including the game-winning goal in the Leafs’ first round series-clinching Game 6 victory against the Ottawa Senators.

Pacioretty has 335 goals, 346 assists and 681 points in 939 games with the Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s best known for his time as a Canadien, where he spent 10 seasons, including three as captain of the team. He’s hit the 30-goal and 60-point mark six times in his career, five of those coming with the Canadiens.

Pacioretty also has 28 goals, 30 assists and 58 points in 89 playoff games, although he has never won the Stanley Cup, as he was dealt to the Hurricanes the year before the Golden Knights won their championship in 2023.

Pacioretty’s only award win in his career was the Bill Masterton Trophy in 2011-12, a season in which he returned to action after a brutal hit caused him to be sandwiched between Zdeno Chara and a stanchion at the end of a bench, giving him a cervical vertebrae fracture and a second-grade concussion in the 2010-11 season. Pacioretty has also received votes for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, and year-end All Star teams on a few occasions in his career.