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 retired from the NHL after a career spanning 17 seasons.
Announced on Tuesday, the University of Michigan revealed that Pacioretty, who played for the Wolverines during the 2007-08 season before transitioning to professional hockey, will be joining the men’s hockey program as a special assistant to the head coach.
Pacioretty, originally drafted by the Canadiens in the first round, 22nd overall, in the 2007 NHL draft, later became the 29th captain in the team’s history for the 2014-15 season.
Following his tenure in Montreal, Pacioretty was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in September 2018, where he played for four seasons before short stints with the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals. He then joined the Maple Leafs on a professional tryout ahead of the 2024-25 season, eventually earning a spot on the team.
Throughout his career, Pacioretty accumulated 448 points (226 goals, 222 assists) in 626 regular-season games and 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in 38 playoff appearances with the Canadiens.
The 36-year-old Connecticut native hit the 30-goal mark six times during his career, amassing a total of 335 goals and 346 assists in 939 regular-season games, along with 28 goals and 30 assists in 89 playoff games.
Pacioretty, an all-star with the Golden Knights in 2020 and a recipient of the Bill Masterton Trophy with the Canadiens in 2012, expressed his gratitude and excitement for his new role at Michigan Hockey. In a statement, he thanked his teammates, coaches, and fans for their support throughout his journey and looks forward to contributing to the development of future players.