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Habs Report Cards: Max Pacioretty |
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Habs Report Cards - Max Pacioretty
Grade B
There were 2 big questions regarding Max Pacioretty before the 2015-2016 season began. How fast would he recover from his Summer knee injury? Would he be named Captain of the Montreal Canadiens? The answers came quickly as he was elected Captain by his teammates on the eve of training camp. He worked furiously during September in order to be ready to play opening night, desperately wanting to light the torch at center ice with the C on his jersey.
It was evident that although Pacioretty was cleared, played and scored two goals in the first game of the regular season, he still had to work himself into game shape. His speed and timing was still off, a result of missing all of training camp. However, that just goes to show how good of a player Pacioretty is as he recorded 11 point in the first 10 games of the season. He would go on to finish the season with 30 goals and 64 points, 7 goals less than the previous season but overall only 3 points less. Perhaps what is most notable is that Pacioretty’s powerplay totals were actually up from the 2014-2015 season as he raised that number from 11 to 17. I would venture that this is a direct correlation to playing with Tomas Plekanec and/or Alex Galchenyuk as his centermen rather than David Desharnais. Also of note, Pacioretty’s shorthanded production was down as he and Plekanec were no longer part of the team’s #1 unit on the penalty kill.
The year though was certainly a trying one for Pacioretty, having to learn to navigate as Captain and attempt to help the team through all of its injuries. While he had stability and success through the first 20 games playing with Plekanec and Brendan Gallagher, it was then a carousel of linemates as head coach Michel Therrien tinkered with the trios. The injuries to Carey Price and Gallagher made it that much more difficult for him as he was missing two important pieces of the leadership core on the ice and bench. At the post-mortem press conference, Pacioretty alluded that the lack of veteran leadership such as a Manny Malhotra was missed. Not just in the locker room but privately as someone he could go to for advice. Andrei Markov and Tomas Plekanec are veteran leaders but they are more of the lead by example mold. If the Canadiens do not acquire such a player in the off-season, this is where new/old Associate Coach Kirk Muller can be of great assistance. Pacioretty has said all the right things about how much he has learned through his first season as Captain. Hopefully, season two will go much more smoothly for him...
Pacioretty’s so-called feud with P.K. Subban was comical at times and I will not delve too deeply into it. I truly believe that these players admire and respect one another. They may not always agree or go about things the same way but the bottom line is that both players want to bring a Stanley Cup to Montreal. They recognize that they need each other to accomplish this difficult feat and they will be all the stronger for it next season.
Come the 2016-2017 season, I expect Pacioretty to start the season with Galchenyuk as his centerman, likely playing with Gallagher on the right side. This trio has shown tremendous chemistry each time they are put together but what was most encouraging was that Pacioretty and Galchenyuk were able to produce even when Gallagher was injured for the second time in the season. In the last 17 games of the season that the duo were together he had 19 points. It was hopefully a preview of what is to come.
With that, Habs report cards are done! Next up, a focus on the NHL draft.
Cheers & follow along!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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