The Washington Capitals made two significant moves in the offseason: signing six-time, 30-goal scorer Max Pacioretty to a one-year contract and trading for defenseman Joel Edmundsson.
In the weeks of the training camp, the two players have already arrived at the place and were seen at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
Wednesday, the Capitals posted a photo of Pacioretty watching his kids skate at the team’s practice facility.
Pacioretty seems to be sitting with his wife Katia, a former tennis player from Russia and the sister of Maxim Afinogenov, as they watched their children drill in the ice. Pacioretty has four sons and one daughter.
Pacioretty cited his family as the reason why he signed with the Capitol during his introductory press conference with the Caps media.
“I think there are opportunities out there where there are a lot of unknowns, teams sign guys and don’t know what’s going to happen in February and maybe you turn it down that way,” Pacioretty explained. “And then there are some situations where teams are really against the cap and there’s not much that can be done there. I have five children, my family is the most important to me.”
Pacioretty’s Caps social media post comes two days after the team posted a photo of Edmundsson and Nicklas Backstrom on the ice participating in informal team practices ahead of camp.
While this is Pacioretty’s first public photo in DC, the 34-year-old left wing has been seen in DC for several weeks now. During the Capitals’ Media Game on August 22, Pacioretty’s locker stall was set up and his gear was already hanging in his locker.
Photo: Jess Rapfogel/Capitals
Pacioretty seems likely to start the season on the injured list as he recovers from a second Achilles tendon tear.
“I’m doing very well,” he said. “I am very comfortable where I am now. I don’t think I’ll be ready for the start of the season, but it shouldn’t be long before I’m expected to come back and play.
After tearing his Achilles tendon in the summer of 2022, Pacioretty played in just five games last season before a second tear ended his season.
“I’m not sure of the exact timeline,” Spencer Carbery recently told NHL.com. “I don’t think he will be ready to start the regular season. But whether it’s in the November timeframe or December, whenever he’s healthy and ready to go, I think it gives us a great asset in Max who can, in the middle of the season, potentially give us a real attack in our top six, someone who can help us play in power, someone who has always proven that they can find ways to score, something that is desired around the League .
If Pacioretty suits up, he will become just the second player in franchise history to wear number 67, joining former prospect Chris Brown (2015-2016).
Max Pacioretty will wear 6ï¸âƒ£7ï¸âƒ£ with the Washington Capitals#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/wQn3n9vQ5P
– Washington Capitals (@Capitals) July 3, 2023
Header image courtesy of @Capitals/X