Does Max Comtois Fit into the Anaheim Ducks Equation Next Season?

Max Comtois has had a phenomenal season in the QMJHL, but does he fit into the Anaheim Ducks plans for next season?

With the 50th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft the Anaheim Ducks selected a French Canadian winger named Maxime Comtois. Comtois was projected to be a lottery selection by analysts heading into his final season with his QMJHL team, the Victoriaville Tigers. After that season, where his offensive numbers dipped, the Ducks were lucky enough to see him fall all the way to 50th on draft night.

On March 3rd, 2018, Comtois signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Ducks and ended up making the team out of camp, playing in the season opener against the San Jose Sharks. In the season opener, Comtois scored a goal on his very first NHL shot, showcasing to the world what a steal he really was.

During his first go with the Ducks, Comtois had 2 goals and 5 assists in 10 games and was a +3. Although his possession metrics aren’t as appealing with a -4.1 relative corsi 5 v. 5, and a poor offensive zone percentage at 42.3%, along with a high PDO. You take the good with the bad in his first ten games, but looking at his raw talent and junior stats, gives you a better look at how Comtois might pan out.

Comtois is a solid skater, who in time, will only get better. When it comes to goal scoring, he has proven he can get the job done. Once the Ducks sent him down after his 10 game stint with the team, he proved just how lethal he could be. In 25 games with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, he’s scored 31 goals.

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Comtois is known to have a quick shot release and a wide array of shot abilities. The Anaheim Ducks have a lot of options for forwards next season which begs the question, where will the skilled 20-year-old play?

Anaheim’s future forward core next year could likely contain any variety of: Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Rickard Rakell, Jakob Silfverberg, Ondrej Kase, Adam Henrique, Nick Ritchie, Devin Shore, Carter Rowney, Daniel Sprong, Max Jones, Sam Steel, Troy Terry, Kiefer Sherwood, Isac Lundeström, Max Comtois, and possibly even Ryan Kesler and Patrick Eaves, if they are healthy. That is 16 to 18 forwards fighting for 12 slots. Finding a way into one of those 12 spots is no easy task for a relatively new player on a two-way contract.

Will Maxime Comtois Make the Team?

So, do I see him making the team next year? The answer is yes. I believe Max Comtois possesses the highest level of goal scoring prowess from the young, recently drafted forward core that is mostly playing between San Diego and Anaheim. Anaheim desperately needs goal scoring and Comtois is a man who can score in many different ways.

Seeing that I have him making the team, who would I slot him with? Getzlaf, Perry, and Rakell are likely to still occupy the top line in the 19-20 season. Henrique, Ritchie, and Silf would be my selection for the second line as Nick Ritchie, although still undisciplined, has made noticeable improvements this year.

Given the top 2 lines, Ondrej Kase is an absolute necessity for the third line. Centering the third line should be Shore and on the left side is where I would place Max Comtois. There is plenty of young talent on the roster, but finding a spot for Comtois to get some good, consistent ice time is vital to his growth.

If Comtois can fine tunes his strengths and get decent ice time next year, Ducks fans are in for a treat, and Max Comtois should become a household name for years to come.