The Washington Capitals have signed forward Max Pacioretty to a one-year contract worth $2 million. He could also receive up to $2 million in performance-based incentives.

The 34-year-old Pacioretty was held to just five games in 2022-23, thanks to an Achilles injury that happened during offseason training. His return to the lineup in January was short-lived, as he re-injured that Achilles. No doubt the worries about that injury will linger, but if he can remain healthy this signing could pay off for the Capitals. That being said, Pacioretty is a certified Band-Aid Boy and was also held to 39 games in 2021-22 as well. So he's missed more games than he has played in each of the past two seasons.

Pacioretty was a top-line and first-unit power-play performer during his prime. However, the lack of NHL games over the past two seasons could slow his production in 2023-24. That being said, he scored three goals in his five games in 2022-23, so there's probably still something there. A $2 million cap hit on a one-year term is a good gamble for the Capitals.

Looking at the Capitals' lineup, a certain franchise player named Alex Ovechkin occupies the first line. Yet Pacioretty should have one of either Nicklas Backstrom or Evgeny Kuznetsov feeding him passes, which shouldn't hurt. The Capitals need goal scorers, though. After Ovechkin's 42 goals, only one other player (Dylan Strome) was able to reach 20 goals. So Patches should bring a skill to the lineup that should keep him in the top 6 and the first-unit power play – again, if he can stay in the lineup.

A projection is difficult to make on a player who has missed as many games as Pacioretty over the past two seasons. But if he can stay healthy for most of the season, a 30-goal ceiling is still a possibility.

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Players this helps, in order:

Pacioretty

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Players this hurts, in order:

T.J. Oshie/Strome (power-play time)