Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty has been the subject of trade rumors over the past year, and the inevitable divorce is only getting uglier as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract.
Pacioretty's agent, Allan Walsh, took to Twitter and called out the Canadiens organization, adding yet another chapter to this drama-filled saga.
Pacioretty has remained positive throughout the ordeal, maintaining that he wants to stay in Montreal. But as the team prepares for a rebuilding stage, moving on from the soon-to-be 30-year-old may be best for both sides.
But general manager Marc Bergevin is known for being patient with such moves, having waited perhaps two years too long before finally moving underachiever Alex Galchenyuk to the Arizona Coyotoes this summer, bringing back Max Domi in return.
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Pacioretty had reached the 30-goal mark in each of the past five 82-game regular seasons, but he lit the lamp just 17 times and had 37 points in 64 games, as a knee injury cut his 2017-18 campaign short.
The perennial 30-goal man signed a team-friendly six-year extension worth $27 million in the 2012 offseason, and Pacioretty stands to nearly double his salary in his next contract as he prepares for 2019 free agency.
The Canadiens are just a year removed from the Atlantic Division title, but things fell apart completely in 2017-18. With top defenceman Shea Weber needing knee surgery (which will keep him out until at least December), 2018-19 figures to be another long season for Montreal.
Pacioretty has been Montreal's best player not named Carey Price this decade, but all signs are pointing to a rather ugly departure some time between now and the trade deadline. An extension seems all but unlikely at this point, but he'll remain in Montreal until a team steps forward with an offer that Bergevin can't refuse.