Toronto Maple Leafs' Max Pacioretty Candidly Reveals How He Thought Career Was Over Ahead of Season Opener
Max Pacioretty spoke to the media about the injuries he endured the last two years, but ahead of Toronto's season opener against Montreal, Pacioretty feels he's back.
When the Maple Leafs signed Max Pacioretty, a lot of speculation surrounded how the 35-year old would hold up this season, given his injury history and coming off two rough seasons where he never looked himself. Far removed from his 24-goal average in Vegas, Pacioretty fell off a cliff, but it's to be expected with the injuries he dealt with.
Speaking with The Athletic ahead of Toronto's season opener against Montreal on Wednesday, Pacioretty candidly spoke about the last two seasons and how they affected him, often times wondering if his career was over:
«When I look back at my lifetime,» Pacioretty says, «that will be up there with the hardest times in my life.
It's just like, no one has truly seen my injury,» Pacioretty says. «Like, I can go to every doctor in the world and no one has seen three Achilles surgeries in eight months. So it really was like, I'm listening to people who have never seen it before.»
It's just like, no one has truly seen my injury,» Pacioretty says. «Like, I can go to every doctor in the world and no one has seen three Achilles surgeries in eight months. So it really was like, I'm listening to people who have never seen it before.»
Pacioretty was suffering with some serious ailments and having three surgeries in less than a year is devastating on anyone's body, let alone a pro athlete with so many miles. Laying in a cast, unsure what to do, Pacioretty was at a crossroads.
Max's Journey To Munich
It was a decision that may seem a bit ridiculous to many. Still, Pacioretty decided to take matters into his own hands and find alternative treatment and did so with one of sports medicine's well-respected physicians. Though he comes with some controversy, Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt has built a reputation in the sports world of being a magician of sorts, helping athletes from Christian McCaffrey to Usain Bolt in dealing with knee and Achilles tendon injuries.
So it was his advice and treatment that Pacioretty sought out, and he found himself questioning the decision at first:
«First time I go there,» he recalls, «I'm like, 'What am I doing? I'm getting on a flight to Munich?' I have no idea what I'm doing. Like, people think I'm crazy, but I would have done just about anything in the world to get my life back and my career back.»
But after his treatments and being looked after by Müller-Wohlfahrt, Pacioretty has felt rejuvenated and spoke highly of the doctor:
«He just does something that no one else can do,» Pacioretty says. «He's been doing it since before MRIs and CT scans. And he has that magical touch He saved my career.
He was able to diagnose what was going on in there and how to get it to start functioning properly again,» Pacioretty said.
He was able to diagnose what was going on in there and how to get it to start functioning properly again,» Pacioretty said.
Pacioretty went to Germany three times to speak with Müller-Wohlfahrt and gushed about the doctor and his connection with the German physician:
«Not to get too spiritual,» Pacioretty says, «but I felt a connection with him, a vibe with him.»
So What Happens Next for Max Pacioretty?
It's that vibe that the Maple Leafs hope Pacioretty will ride into a successful season where he will be called upon to provide some veteran scoring depth and leadership. Craig Berube will no doubt look to Pacioretty as one of the key voices in the locker room along with John Tavares and captain Auston Matthews. It's also of note that Pacioretty is a proven playoff producer and should be one of the main factors in a deep Maple Leafs playoff run.
It's been a long journey for Max Pacioretty to get back to health, including flying halfway across the world. But it's led him to Wednesday night, where Pacioretty gets to suit up against his former team and start his journey again towards the Stanley Cup.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 9 | 202 ANSWERS Toronto Maple Leafs' Max Pacioretty Candidly Reveals How He Thought Career Was Over Ahead of Season Opener Will Max Pacioretty score in the season opener against Montreal? | ||
| Yes | 33 | 16.3 % |
| No | 151 | 74.8 % |
| He'll get an assist | 16 | 7.9 % |
| He'll get a hat trick | 2 | 1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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