Very surprising statement by Pacioretty about the Chara incident, he blames one unexpected person

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Jeff Drouin
July 30, 2022 (3:36 PM)

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Everyone remembers the incident of March 8, 2011 at the Bell Centre, when Zdeno Chara literally stamped Max Pacioretty on the boards, leaving him unconscious on the ice. The images had made the round of the league and had shocked many, because Chara, for this gesture, had not been punished, besides being expelled from the game.

In the end, Pacioretty suffered a serious concussion and a fracture of the fourth cervical vertebra.

In a recent appearance on the Raw Knuckles podcast hosted by Chris Nilan and Tim Stapleton, Pacioretty reflected on the infamous hit, saying it was just a case of him being young and stupid.

"I was so stupid [...] If you look at the clock on that play, it pushes my head into the glass. It's a game of nothing, it's me being young and stupid, like let me try to win this race at the end of a period that has no relevance on the game at all. Obviously, it stamps my head in the band, but I don't remember anything else. I remember waking up in the hospital." - Max Pacioretty

So the former CH captain doesn't seem to have any bitterness towards the veteran NHL defenseman. It's surprising, but he blames himself for the famous incident.

In response, the NHL modified the glass at the ends of the benches to protect players from further incidents.

In the same podcast, Pacioretty also made a very interesting statement about his former coach Michel Therrien. He said he has a lot of respect for the Quebec coach and even mentions that he still talks to him several times a year.