Pacioretty takes trade rumours in stride as NHL season nears
Max Pacioretty waited till the last minute to confirm that he would go ahead with his annual charity golf tournament.
Amid months of trade rumours mentioning his name, Pacioretty wanted to see if he was still a Montreal Canadien before sending out invitations for the tournament that helped raise money for both the team’s and his own charitable foundations.
Pacioretty still wasn’t sure where he’ll play this season as he teed of Tuesday with some teammates, supporters, management and the coaching staff, but he wasn’t going to let that spoil the day.
“We wanted to wait until the last possible minute just in case something happened,” Pacioretty said.
“Once we invited people, we got overwhelming support immediately. I wasn’t contemplating whether or not to do the tournament. I was always in my mind that I wanted to, but you didn’t want to do so if the circumstances weren’t right.”
He confirmed that there have been no talks with general manager Marc Bergevin on a new contract.
So if negotiations don’t start soon, it is likely the club will try to deal the high-scoring left-winger before his contract runs out at the end of the 2018-19 season and Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty looks on from the bench during third period NHL hockey action against the San Jose Sharks earlier this year in Montreal.
he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Why Bergevin appears intent on trading one of the NHL’s best left-wingers over the last seven years is a mystery. Bergevin, who also spoke briefly to the media, said he expects Pacioretty to be on hand when the Canadiens camp opens Sept. 14.
“I can’t control that situation,” said Pacioretty. “I’ve got to worry about what I can control and that is out of my control when it comes down to it.
“Whether it’s Berg or my agent (Allan Walsh), they will have discussions that are necessary, but at this point I can’t control any of that.”
The P.E.I. 55+ Games Society recently sent a contingent of 90 participants to the 2018 Canada 55+ Games in Saint John, N.B.
The Games are a biennial event encompassing more that 20 events ranging from very active sports like hockey and tennis to sedentary competitions like Scrabble and bridge. P.E.I. was represented in hockey, curling, swimming, track and field, cycling, bowling, golf, bocce, and Scrabble.
Marjorie Matthews earned two gold medals and a silver in track and field while cyclist Paul Wright brought home a gold and a silver.
Swimmers Letty Abbott (two gold and a bronze) and Ann Andrews (four bronze) had strong showings.
The curling rink of Gloria Clarke, Ruth Stavert, Elaine Hughes, Janette Fraser won the 65-plus division while the 55-plus men’s rink of Philip McInnis, Pius McInnis, David Murphy, Alan Long were defeated in the medal qualifying game.
In the 75-plus bowling competition the team of Hector MacDonald, Margaret Wigginton, Norma Morrissey, Vera MacLeod and Foch McNally won gold. In singles, MacDonald won silver and Wigginton bronze.
Phyllis McCabe won silver in the Scrabble competition.
In the hockey competition, P.E.I.’s 55-plus men won bronze, the 65-plus men lost in the bronze medal game, the 70-plus men did not qualify for the medal round and the women missed the medal round on a tie-breaking formula.
In bocce, Adrian Clarke and Ernie Stavert were in a four-way tie for first but lost on tie-breaking rules.
The 2020 Canada 55+ Games will be held in Kamloops, B.C., from Aug. 25-28.
The P.E.I. 55+ 2019 Summer Games will be held Sept. 10-15 in the Stanhope area. Registrations close on Aug. 30. Forms are available online, at Vogue Optical outlets, or at the 55+ Games office at Sport P.E.I. (Royalty Centre).
Martin Brodeur is leaving the St. Louis Blues after spending the past three years as assistant general manager.
The team says Brodeur is departing to pursue other opportunities. Brodeur ended his career with the Blues, joined the front office as assistant to the GM in January 2015.