Pacioretty forgoes eligibility and Signs with Montreal Canadiens

Just in hot off the presses from MGOBlue and the blog that Yost Built Super frosh Max Pacioretty has signed a professional contract with Les Habs. This is a big time loss for the Michigan Wolverines. It will be interesting to see what other big signing will happen as the summer progresses to the fall...

MONTREAL -- Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced Thursday the signing of forward Max Pacioretty to a three-year contract (2008-09 to 2010-11). As per club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Max Pacioretty is a young player with a lot of skills who has the potential to play in the NHL. We are very happy to have him under contract for years to come. We feel he is ready to make the jump to professional hockey, and we will make sure to provide him with all the resources which will benefit his long-term development as a player,’’ said Bob Gainey.

Pacioretty, a native of New Canaan, Connecticut, completed in 2007-08 his freshman season in the NCAA with the University of Michigan Wolverines of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). The 19-year-old ranked fourth in scoring with the Wolverines with 39 points in 37 games (15 goals, 24 assists), posting a plus-31 rating along with 59 penalty minutes.

Pacioretty (6’02’’, 199 lbs) finished second on the team in plus-minus (+31) and powerplay goals (9). He also scored three game-winning goals and registered 109 shots on goal. The left winger was named the CCHA Rookie of the Year, and was named to the College Hockey News All-Rookie team and the CCHA All-Rookie team. He finished fifth in U.S. college hockey among rookies in points (39) and points per game (1.05). He was also Recipient of the Mickey and Wally Grant Scholarship for Men's Ice Hockey.

Pacioretty was a member of the US National team which finished fourth at the 2008 World Junior Championship presented in Czech Republic.

At the junior level, Pacioretty played two seasons with the United States Hockey League's Sioux City Musketeers from 2004 to 2006. In his second season, he scored 21 goals and 42 assists for 63 points in 60 games, which awarded him the USHL Rookie of the Year honours and a selection to the USHL All-Rookie team.

Max Pacioretty was a Canadiens’ first-round selection, 22nd overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.