‘We’re going to be fine.’ Hurricanes can overcome loss of injured Max Pacioretty, GM says

The sudden loss of forward Max Pacioretty to an Achilles injury won’t cause any sudden moves by the Carolina Hurricanes, Canes president and general manager Don Waddell said Thursday.

Waddell added that while Pacioretty’s torn Achilles tendon this week was an unexpected setback, the team had enough depth and talent at forward to suffice until Pacioretty returns in six months, if not sooner.

“The way we look at it, yes, we’re not as good without Pacioretty, but we still think we’re a pretty good team,” Waddell said. “If everything goes well, he’ll be back in late January or early February and be like a trade-deadline addition.

“It happened, we can’t change it, so now we have to look at the positives going forward. I think we’re going to be fine.”

The Canes traded for Pacioretty in July to help offset the scoring loss of forwards Vincent Trocheck and Nino Niederreiter, who combined for 45 goals and 95 points last season. Both left during free agency, Trocheck signing with the New York Rangers and Niederreiter with the Nashville Predators.

Max Pacioretty’s Achilles snap leaves Hurricanes in goal gap, but team avoids cap trap

Pacioretty has scored 30 or more goals six times in his career with Montreal and then Vegas, and had 19 goals in 39 games last season with the Golden Knights despite being slowed by hand and leg injuries.

Pacioretty, 33, was in Raleigh and had been a part of some of the informal skates at Invisalign Arena, the Canes’ practice facility. Waddell said the veteran was running when he injured his right Achilles tendon, requiring surgery Wednesday.

“If this was a basketball player or football player he’d be out a year,” Waddell said. “With hockey players, once you get your foot in the skate you don’t really use your Achilles.”

Waddell said he conferred with former Canes forward and captain Justin Williams, who tore an Achilles tendon in September 2008 — also in an off-ice conditioning drill — during his first playing stint with Carolina. Williams, then 26, missed 25 games, returning in December 2008.

“Everybody heals differently,” Waddell said.

Waddell noted he has fielded some calls from teams looking to move players and “dump salary.” Pacioretty, who has a $7 million salary cap hit, will be placed on Long Term Injured Reserve, but will return at some point in the regular season.

“At that point we’re going to need that cap space,” Waddell said. “You can’t just create cap space in the middle of the year. You have to have the cap space to bring him back.

“We’re talking to teams. If a team needs to move a player and he’s a good player, we’ll figure it out. There has to be a limit to how much money a player makes. But we’re very content to stay on the path we’re on right now.”

Waddell noted that Canes recently re-signed restricted free agent Martin Necas after adding forward Ondrej Kase last month when NHL free agency began. The Canes are expecting a bounce-back season from Necas, a former first-round draft pick, and Kase has been a 20-goal scorer in his career.

”The good news is we signed two players who can play in the top nine (forwards),” Waddell said.

A potential top nine, Waddell said, could have Kase replacing Niederreiter on the Jordan Staal line, Necas playing with Teuvo Teravainen on Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s line and Sebastian Aho centering Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis.

“Our top nine is still pretty darn good,” he said.

Waddell said he has spoken to Pacioretty, who understandably was somewhat shaken by the injury but will try to remain upbeat about all that still could happen this season.

“He’s down but he knows you can’t dwell on it,” Waddell said. “You can’t change it, it’s done, so let’s look at the positives. Get your family settled. Be able to take your kids to school for the next few months. And look at it as being ready for a great stretch run drive and deep playoff run.”