Habster:

It’s been a very frustrating WHL season for Ben Maxwell as he has missed 39 games with a nagging thigh injury. He returned to game action with the Kootenay Ice about a week ago and has made an already strong team even stronger going into the playoffs.

Maxwell has a history of injuries throughout his junior hockey career. He missed over 30 games in the 2006-07 season with a shoulder injury. Hopefully, he’ll have better luck when he starts his pro career next season in Hamilton. Trevor Timmins feels Maxwell has had some bad luck over the past two seasons.

“He had a calcification in the thigh muscle – like a golf ball – and there was nothing to do but rest and ultrasound,” Timmins told Hockey’s Future writer Jason Menard. “The first injury last year was just wear and tear on the elbow, the second was a knee on thigh hit. He’s just been unlucky.”

Trevor Timmins is very high on Ben Maxwell and his complete game, skill set. Maxwell has really developed his all-round game with the ability to score points as well. He is a excellent skater with very good vision who is a very cerebral type player. Trevor Timmins thinks that Ben Maxwell has the potential to be a future Habs’ first or second line center and loves the way he thinks the game,

“Maxwell really thinks the game well,” Timmins said. “He’s a guy like Sergei [Kostitsyn] who can play with the top guys because of his understanding and knowledge of the game”.

He impressed the organization during his limited pre-season action with the Canadiens this year as he had a groin injury.Read HF’s article on Ben Maxwell.