It’s tough to understand the amount of pressure professional hockey players take on throughout an entire season. It’s a grueling 82 games and if a player or team is struggling they get bombarded with negative questions picking on every little detail. Sounds stressful right? Now triple that for players in feverish markets like Toronto, New York, Boston and Montreal. That’s been Max Pacioretty’s life for the past decade, so after seven contests and only goal scored it’s not surprising he’s feeling the frustration.
Our line has been struggling, so we have to find that chemistry a bit more. We need to make life easier on each other out there. It’s frustrating, because we haven’t produced at all… but we’ll get it going. -Max Pacioretty
Part of the problem is the plan of who Pacioretty was supposed to play with hasn’t exactly been followed.
My two linemates (Paul Stastny and Alex Tuch) got injured right at the start of the year and that makes it hard. I haven’t found that chemistry yet.”-Max Pacioretty
Haula and Pacioretty have been skating together since Tuch’s injury on September 30th, yet it still hasn’t clicked. When might it?
Never been in this position. Played ten years in one spot, so this is all new to me. -Pacioretty
The veteran winger knows he’s a dangerous weapon and if he’s not scoring, in his eyes he’s not doing his job. Which requires him playing consistent minutes. That didn’t happen for Pacioretty or the second line against Buffalo.
Looking to earn some more ice time and help this team win. -Pacioretty
Against the Sabres, Pacioretty skated a season-low 13:24 TOI. He’s only logged fewer than 13:24 five times in the past five years (380 games), and most were caused by injury. He averages 17:38 ATOI over his career, and just so happened to mention earning more ice time twice the day after playing low minutes. Playing time means a lot to Pacioretty, and he’s irked that lack of line chemistry is keeping him off the ice.
The challenge for reigning Jack Adams winner Gerard Gallant is to figure out if the chicken or the egg comes first in this scenario. Pacioretty’s ice time has been limited because his line hasn’t been producing, but can Pacioretty and his line produce without the ice time?
Frustrated or not, Pacioretty still smiled and joked about mistakenly going offsides on Shea Theodore’s over turned first period goal.
I’m upset at myself because maybe we’d be watching Shea on ESPN this morning. But I happened to ruin that by going off sides. -Pacioretty
Could it be subconscious pressure Pacioretty brought along from Montreal? Possibly, but he’ll learn sooner than later, scoring droughts in Vegas are a lot easier to deal with. Golden Knights fans will continue to support Pacioretty’s hard work, positive attitude and drive to win because Vegas fans aren’t worried. They know they’ll be seeing plenty of Pacioretty highlights on ESPN… well more likely on the NHL Network, cause, you know ESPN kinda still hates hockey.
Deanna
I watched him mouth “F*ck” about 8 times in a row on Tuesday night vs. Sabres. His frustration is showing. It will come, just need to be patient.
Mzmeyh3m
I agree 100% and also believe he has still been a positive addition. I love that he cares and doesn’t what to let us, the team or himself down.
Mike
Don’t want to draw comparisons to that guy we picked up from Detroit at the trade deadline but it is sorta hard not to. I think Max is a better all around player BUT the fact is he is still dependent on those around him to do his job. Haula is not the prototypical center that Stasney is or that Perron (still can’t believe we let him go for $4m/tear) played last year and it is not that surprising he doesn’t mesh well with him. Almost would rather see Eakin on that line with Haula on the wing. Either way something has to change.
David
He’s not a penalty killer, right? With six penalties last night, that cut into his ice time.
No worries, Patch, we know you’re working hard – it will come.
Ken Boehlke
He actually has killed penalties quite a bit in his past. PK units here are very good so it’s not too surprising he’s not on there (yet) here.
Bent Hermit
What I found the most interesting was his comment about Tuch suppose to be his line mate. From the way training camp went I figured Haula was going to be the winger. I thought Haula was too much like Pacioretty. Tuch brings a big man’s game to that line. I guess we will see how it all works out when the team gets healthy.
billy runaway
max has always been streaky in the past.he also has a tendency to be negative if the lack of production lasts too long.hope he breaks the drought soon ,for your teams sake.
Greg Macneil
Hans fan: he scores in bunches. Never been great in October. Have him in my pool. Have not dropped him. Hold tight