Prospect Update: Maxim Masse

By Thomas Harrington

The Anaheim Ducks drafted forward Maxim Masse in the third round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, 66th overall. He played for the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the QMJHL this past season and was one of the team’s alternate captains. He played with fellow Anaheim prospect Emile Guite. The highlight of the season for them as teammates came in December when both had a hat trick in the same game.

This was Masse’s final year of juniors, and it was a great one. In the 2024-2025 season, he scored 33 goals and 59 points in 47 games. This past season, Masse exploded for 51 goals and 102 points in 63 games. He tied for the QMJHL lead in goals and led the league in points; he was the only player to finish north of 100. Chicoutimi made the playoffs, and Masse scored 6 goals and 24 points in 20 games, helping them win the QMJHL championship and qualify for the Memorial Cup. He led the team in assists and points, and finished fifth in league scoring in the playoffs. Masse played in four games at the Memorial Cup and scored one goal.

For his great season, Masse was named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team, won the Jean Beliveau Trophy for the most points in the QMJHL, the Michel Briere Trophy as the most valuable player in the QMJHL, and The David Branch CHL Player of the Year Award. Masse is the sixth player ever to win the CHL Rookie of the Year (back in 2023) and the CHL Player of the Year, joining Sidney Crosby, Alex DeBrincat, John Tavares, Alexis Lafreniere, and Gavin McKenna.

I had three expectations for Masse, and he was able to meet two of them. First, for him to stay healthy after missing over a month of action the previous season. This past year, he only missed one game, so he definitely met this expectation. Second, he’s an offensively gifted player and I wanted him to finish in the top 10 for both goals and points in the QMJHL. Leading both categories means he more than met this expectation. The final expectation was conditional, and that was if his season ended early enough and the Gulls were still playing, for him to join San Diego on an ATO and make his professional debut. San Diego’s season ended in April and Masse was still playing into late May, so he never had a chance to do this one.

This past season was Masse’s final year of junior hockey. However, rather than sign his entry-level deal and turn pro, he’s opted to go the college route and will be playing for the University of Massachusetts of the NCAA this coming season. He is one of several CHL players to move to the NCAA over the last couple of years. His Chicoutimi teammate Guite will also be moving to the NCAA next year.

The NCAA is known as a league where it’s more difficult to score than it is in Canadian Juniors. As a result, Masse’s offensive numbers will take a dip this coming season. With that in mind, I have two expectations for him. First, for him to finish among the top five scorers on his new team. This past season, 20 points in 36 games would have secured him fifth on the team. Anaheim prospect Alexandre Blais averaged a half point per game when he moved from the QMJHL to the NCAA this past season. Masse has a higher offensive ceiling, which is why I think he can do better than Blais did. Second, for him to appear in a majority of Massachusetts’ games.

Masse is still at least a few years away from making it to the NHL. He’s got one to two seasons of college hockey ahead of him, and that will likely be followed by a season or two in the AHL learning the pro game. So the earliest we may see him in Anaheim is the 2029-2030 season, but it wouldn’t shock me if it ended up being later than that.

Masse is currently unsigned and per PuckPedia, Anaheim controls his rights until summer 2028. As long as his offense can translate to the NCAA, the Ducks should sign him before he becomes a free agent. However, if he struggles to adapt to college hockey, Anaheim may choose to not sign him and let him go in two years.

The next prospect update will be on defenseman Lasse Boelius.

Related Articles:

Prospect Update: Tomas Suchanek 

Prospect Update: Coulson Pitre

Prospect Update: Nathan Gaucher

Graduated Prospect: Beckett Sennecke

Graduated Prospect: Tim Washe

Graduated Prospect: Ian Moore

Prospect Profile: Anton Wahlberg

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July 24th, 2026