Pacioretty on trade rumors: 'If it happens, it happens'

Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty is trying to focus on what he can control as opposed to the swirling trade rumors containing his name.

"You just live your life and worry about your family," Pacioretty said, according to Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette. "If it happens, it happens. I'm very proud of the past success I've had in Montreal. I've played here for 10 years and I've never gone through something like this. I've gone through ups and downs, but never this low."

Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos reported Saturday that the Canadiens were actively shopping Pacioretty, preferably for a younger goal-scorer.

Head coach Claude Julien says he has not discussed the rumors with Pacioretty - instead, the two have been talking about the 29-year-old's game. Pacioretty has severely tailed off in recent weeks, having scored just once in his last 21 games.

"Rumors are rumors and why fuel the rumor by talking to him about a rumor," Julien said. "You talk to him about his game and you work with him. As I say, a player will always be my player until he's gone. Sometimes, I don't know when that's going to be, and sometimes he's not going to be gone. ... You have to be able to overcome that to be successful. In Max's situation with all the rumors, he's handling it well."

In the meantime, Pacioretty is tasked with trying to get not just himself, but the entire team back on track. The Canadiens kick off the first of a five-game home stand Tuesday night and will look to snap a four-game losing streak.

Copyright (C) 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.