Maxime Comtois Signs with Eastern Conference Contender

Former top prospect Maxime Comtois is on the move in free agency. The forward has signed a one year, two way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Maxime Comtois Gets New Deal with the Carolina Hurricanes

The former second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, Comtois was once a promising prospect while playing for Victoriaville in the QMJHL. His NHL career has yet to hit the highs that once looked likely, but he has played parts in five seasons with the Anaheim Ducks. So far in his career, he has scored 38 goals and 48 assists for 86 points in 210 games.

Last season on a young Ducks team, Comtois scored 9 goals and 10 assists in 64 games. He has also represented Team Canada at the World Championships in 2020-21 and 2021-22, where he put up a combined 13 points in 20 games and won a gold and silver medal. Comtois is also coming off of a two-year deal that paid him a little over $2 million AAV.

What This Means

Comtois was at one point billed as a premium power-forward goal scorer coming into his draft year. He put up big numbers in his draft +1 season and had looked like a second-round steal for Anaheim. Fast forward six years later and he found himself on the free agent market after not receiving a qualifying offer. However, at 24 years old there is still plenty of hope that Comtois can find success with a fresh start. His best year came in 2020-21 when he scored 16 goals and 17 assists in just 55 games.

For Maxime Comtois, he earns himself an opportunity on a contract with the Hurricanes and the chance to earn a spot in an everyday roster. His game has yet to translate fully to the NHL, but that can partially be due to the circumstances he faced playing on a poor and inexperienced Ducks squad. He may not reach the high offensive potential he once had, but there is certainly hope that the 24-year-old can have success in the NHL. With the Hurricanes in the playoff spot, he can be a stellar depth piece in the lineup.