Former Canadian forward Max Pacioretty could play his first game of the season on Saturday when the Washington Capitals host the Nashville Predators.
When asked on Friday, a few hours before the duel against the New York Islanders, the team's head coach, Spencer Carbery, opened the door for the return of the 35-year-old American, as well as the debut with the club of defender Ethan Bear. “It’s getting closer and closer,” he told the media, as reported by MSN journalist Tarik El-Bashir. The club and its medical staff will also decide on their status for the next day's clash in the coming hours.
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Pacioretty's final game in the National Hockey League came on January 19 against the Carolina Hurricanes. Two Achilles tendon tears severely affected his career and he had to take a break for several months. Furthermore, the winger only played five games in 2022-2023. He returned to contact training earlier this month.
Bear, for his part, signed a two-year, $4.125 million contract on Thursday. The Caps are fifth in the Metropolitan Section of the National Hockey League with 39 points in 32 games.