NHL Rumors: One Eastern Conference Team Announces They Won't Pursue Max Comtois

The Montreal Canadiens have firmly decided against pursuing Maxime Comtois, the Quebec-born left-winger, as he enters unrestricted free agency.

Despite Comtois expressing his willingness to play for the Canadiens and his potential fit within the team's age range and style of play, General Manager Kent Hughes has shown no interest in acquiring him.

Comtois had an impressive breakout season with the Anaheim Ducks in 2020-21, but his subsequent decline in production and consistency has made the Canadiens cautious about adding him to their roster.

Max Comtois responds back for Anaheim with a redirect goal of his own, tying it up for the Ducks at 1!#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/vP7UzNfgmS

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) March 11, 2023

The team already has players effectively fulfilling Comtois' potential role, such as Joel Armia and Brendan Gallagher, leaving little room for him without hindering the development of their talented prospects.

Furthermore, the Canadiens face financial constraints with limited salary cap space, making it challenging to accommodate Comtois in their roster.

Last season, the 24-year-old scored nine goals and 19 points across 64 games with the Ducks.

Despite his local ties and offensive skills, the team has weighed the risks and concluded that his acquisition does not align with their current needs and would not provide the necessary improvements to justify the move. Photo Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports