Player from Canada's 2018 World Juniors team returns to the NHL

This just in, former Anaheim Ducks forward Maxime Comtois has signed a one year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.

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Comtois, of course, was a member of Canada's infamous 2018 World Juniors team. Comtois' former teammates Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote and Michael McCleod have all been investigated and formally charged by London Police for their involvement in an alleged sexual assault. 

There were rumors around the hockey world that Comtois may have been involved as well, but the only evidenced that surfaced was Comtois' lack of NHL contract. After all, he had some relatively good years production wwise with the Ducks only to be dropped as a free agent with seemingly no interest around the NHL. Frankly, it was almost the exact same thing with saw with Formenton and the Ottawa Senators. In any case, Comtois is back in the NHL and the rumors have died down. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of his career plays out while details of the alleged assault become public.

From the Hurricanes' official press release announcement:

RALEIGH, NC – Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has signed forward Max Comtois to a one-year contract worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $250,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level through the end of the 2023-24 season.

“Max is a physical forward with lots of NHL games under his belt,” said Waddell. “His experience at this level will add to our organizational depth at that position."

Comtois, 25, has tallied 86 points (38g, 48a) in 210 career NHL games, all with Anaheim. He earned 19 points (9g, 10a) in 64 games with the Ducks last season and registered a career-high 33 points (16g, 17a) in 55 NHL games in 2020-21. The 6’2”, 210-pound forward has skated in 45 AHL games with Chicago this season, recording 28 points (12g, 16a). Comtois has posted 53 points (22g, 31a) in 80 career AHL games with Chicago and San Diego since debuting with the Gulls in 2018-19. The Longueuil, Quebec, native also played 205 QMJHL games with Victoria and Drummondville from 2015-19, tallying 244 points (123g, 121a). Comtois has represented Canada at two IIHF World Junior Championships (2018-19) and two IIHF World Championships (2021-22), captaining his team at the 2019 World Juniors and winning gold at the 2018 World Juniors and 2021 World Championship.

For our earlier report on the Hurricanes and their ongoing situation with defenseman Anthony DeAngelo, read below.

According to a report from NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Carolina Hurricanes are trying to offload defenseman Anthony DeAngelo for a pittance. Seravalli reports that the 'Canes are willing to absorb 50% of DeAngelo's $1.67 million salary and are seeking only a 5th round pick in exchange for the veteran blueliner.

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DeAngelo, of course, was reportedly traded to the Hurricanes this past offseason before the NHL vetoed the deal due to salary cap circumvention rules. DeAngelo played the 2021-22 season with the Hurricanes before being acquired by the Philadelphia Flyers last offseason. When the Flyers tried to trade DeAngelo BACK to the Hurricanes this offseason, the NHL denied the trade stating that a team cannot re-acquire a player within 12 months of trading them away, if that player is an unsigned RFA. Since that was the situation last offseason, the Hurricanes weren't able to re-aquire him via trade.

Ultimately DeAngelo agreed to a one year deal with the 'Canes as a free agent, but his return to North Carolina has been underwhelming. The 28 year old has just three goals and 10 points in 27 games. He managed 11 goals and 42 points in 70 games with the Flyers last season but he reportedly clashed with Flyers heard coach John Tortorella, which ultimately led to a contract buy-out

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Surprise, surprise that DeAngelo, a player with a history of personality issues, clashed with the most fiercely stubborn coach in the NHL. 

DeAngelo, of course, was also run out of the Big Apple after clashing with teammates on the New York Rangers. Remember when DeAngelo went off on then Rangers netminder Alexandar Georgiev and earned himself another contract buy-out?

DeAngelo reportedly cracked 'Make a fucking save' to Georgiev after a particularly tough loss and Georgiev lost it. He took a swing at DeAngelo and the pair were separated by teammates. Ultimately, Georgiev's teammates sided with him and DeAngelo had his contract terminated within hours.

All of this is to say that DeAngelo has a history of being an awful teammate, so don't be surprised if there's no interest for him on the trade market.