Pacioretty, 34, underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles on Aug. 10 and has not appeared in any of Carolina's 38 games this season. The 6'2", 214-pound forward was acquired by the Hurricanes along with defenseman Dylan Coghlan from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for future considerations on July 13, 2022. Pacioretty tallied 37 points (19g, 18a) in 39 NHL games with Vegas in 2021-22, and he has recorded 642 points (323g, 319a) in 850 career NHL games with Montreal and Vegas. He wore a letter in seven of eight NHL seasons from 2014-22, captaining the Canadiens from 2015-18. The New Canaan, Conn., native has represented the United States at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship, 2014 Olympics and 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Pacioretty was selected by Montreal in the first round, 22nd overall, of the 2007 NHL Draft.
Kase, 27, has missed each of the last 37 games due to a concussion after signing with Carolina as a free agent in the offseason and making his Hurricanes debut in the season opener against Columbus. The 6'0", 191-pound forward posted 27 points (14g, 13a) in 50 NHL games with Toronto last season and has now earned 124 points (57g, 67a) in 258 career NHL games with Anaheim, Boston, Toronto and Carolina. The Kadan, Czechia, native represented his home country at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship. Kase was selected by Anaheim in the seventh round, 205th overall, of the 2014 NHL Draft.
Fitzgerald, 26, was placed on the injured non-roster list at the beginning of the season due to an upper-body injury. The 6'1", 190-pound defenseman has registered 59 points (19g, 40a) in 220 career AHL games with San Jose, Charlotte and Chicago. Fitzgerald skated in 17 AHL playoff games last season, tallying six points (1g, 5a) to help the Wolves win the Calder Cup. The Boston, Mass., native signed with Carolina as a free agent on May 11, 2021.
