Montreal Canadiens 2017 NHL Draft: Maxime Comtois – Agitating Power Forward
by Matt Smith, Staff Writer/Social Media Specialist, All Habs Hockey Magazine
We will continue our look at potential picks for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft with Maxime Comtois of the Victoriaville Tigres.
Maxime Comtois, LW, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) 
January 8, 1999 | Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
6-2, 207 lbs. | Shoots L | @comtois20
2016-’17: 64 GP, 22 G, 29 A, 51 PTS (Victoriaville Tigres)
CSB: No. 30 (NA Skaters) | ISS: No. 30 | THN: No. 19 | HP: No. 48 | FC: No. 24
Comtois was selected third overall by the Victoriaville Tigres during the 2015 QMJHL Draft. In his rookie season, he scored 26 goals, and had 34 assists for 60 points in 62 games, catching the attention of many as a potential top 10 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.
This season, however, many have now expelled Comtois potentially out of first round contention after his numbers dropped to 22 goals and 29 assists this season, a drop off of 9 points from his rookie season. This drop off may be the result of teammate Pascal Laberge, a second round pick (36th overall) of the Philadelphia Flyers, being injured early in the season after suffering a concussion after a dangerous high hit from Moncton Wildcats defenceman, Zachary Malatesta.
Comtois is a power forward who can play all three forward positions intelligently. He excels by playing a solid all around game, spending much of his time battling for loose pucks in the corner, skating hard on the forecheck, or pestering the opposing goaltender with his agitating style of play.
Although his discipline is occasionally lacking, as shown by his 88 penalty minutes (PIM) this season, he does play a physical, in-your-face style of hockey. He plays the body, and is willing to drop the gloves if an on-ice dispute needs to be settled.
Comtois is a goal scorer and play-maker with good power and accuracy in his shots. This allows him to release the puck quickly and handcuff opposing goaltenders, while using his size to protect the puck. Comtois scores many of his goals close to the net. He plants himself in front of the goaltender, or crashes the net hard using his speed, a very good trait to have at the professional level.
He is used in all situations by the Victoriaville Tigres, and is able to play all positions asked of him by the coaching staff. Comtois uses his speed and strength to his advantage, and plays on the power-play and the first unit penalty kill.
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He played exceptionally well during the Ivan Hlinka tournament, scoring four goals, and adding an assist in four games for Team Canada. Comtois once again wore the maple leaf at the 2017 IIHF World U18 Championship on a fifth place Canadian team, scoring two goals in five games, along with 28 PIM.
Comtois also represented the QMJHL at the CIBC Canada-Russia Series, scoring two goals in two games, including one shorthanded. Comtois also played for Team Cherry during the 2017 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects game, scoring a power-play goal.
The Habs scouting staff will more than likely have the Quebec born Comtois on their list of potential selections when they step up to the podium with the 25th overall pick on June 23rd.