Chicoutimi forward can 'make a difference,' evidenced by 7 game-winning goals this season
The 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft is scheduled for June 28-29 at Sphere in Las Vegas. The first round will take place on June 28 at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN+, SN, and TVAS. Rounds 2-7 will follow on June 29 at 11:30 a.m. ET, available on ESPN+, NHLN, SN, and SN1. NHL.com is providing comprehensive coverage leading up to the draft, featuring detailed profiles of top prospects, podcasts, and other special features. Today, the spotlight is on Maxim Masse, a right wing for Chicoutimi in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). For complete draft coverage, visit NHL.com.
Maxim Masse, playing for Chicoutimi in the QMJHL, has a reputation for delivering in critical moments.
One of his most notable game-winning goals in his two QMJHL seasons was against Rimouski, the team he supported as a child.
"I grew up in Rimouski, and my grandfather had season tickets. He always got me a ticket, and we would go together," Masse recalled. "I was really young, so we had to leave early, but I had a lot of fun watching the Oceanic."
On January 29, 2023, Masse scored the decisive goal against Rimouski, breaking a 2-2 tie with just 3:52 left on the clock, leading Chicoutimi to a 3-2 victory. He received a lead pass, skated in on a breakaway, and scored through the legs of Rimouski goalie Gabriel Robert.
"We all play hockey to enjoy those moments and, of course, to win games," the 18-year-old forward said. "I love being on the ice during crucial times, whether it's a tie game or we're down by a goal. I want to make a difference. Everyone does, but I feel I'm particularly good in those situations."
Selected third overall by Chicoutimi in the 2022 QMJHL draft, Masse follows in the footsteps of his father, Luc Masse, who played one season as a defenseman in the QMJHL with Saint-Jean in 1989-90.
"Playing in the 'Q' is a dream," Masse said. "My dad told me that the game and mindset in the 'Q' have changed—it used to be more physical with more fighting. But he's always supported me, focusing on the mental aspects of the game since I started playing hockey at age 4."
Masse (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) has been a dominant force during his two seasons with Chicoutimi. Last season, he earned the title of Canadian Hockey League Rookie of the Year after scoring 62 points (29 goals, 33 assists), including 20 power-play points and six game-winning goals in 65 regular-season games.
This season, Masse led Chicoutimi in goals (36), points (75), power-play points (28), and game-winning goals (seven) across 67 regular-season games. He also contributed six points (three goals, three assists) in eight QMJHL playoff games, ranking third on the team.
"I'd say I can score from a distance with my shot or by driving to the net, but I can also set up plays for my teammates," Masse said. "I feel confident in my defensive zone as well, so I consider myself a two-way forward."
Masse, who won the Mike Bossy Trophy as the QMJHL's top professional prospect, is ranked No. 30 on NHL Central Scouting's final list of North American skaters eligible for the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
"What we like about Masse is his scoring ability; he’s been prolific at every level he’s played," said Jean-Francois Damphousse of Central Scouting. "He’ll need to add some strength to his lower body, which will help him physically. He’s not a puck carrier or line driver, but at the next level, he can be a 6-foot-2 presence on the wing who finishes around the net. Chicoutimi is a young team on the rise, and they’ll be strong over the next few years.
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"Drafting a player like Masse means having someone in a great situation for the next two years, competing for championships and scoring goals. He’s got a big body and a lot of potential."
Masse, who likely will remain a wing whenever he reaches the professional ranks, said he enjoys watching Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch.
"He's a big guy and can score goals and plays well in his zone too, so I think that's a great comparable," he said. "The compete and the mental side of the game are important as you develop because everybody at the highest level has got the skills to be there. But it's the one who is tougher mentally that goes through ... the one that always competes and wants to get better."
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