[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (To The Max! Edition):

6'2" 181lb RW Maxim Masse should be in the top half of the first round of this year's draft, but he hasn't shown the expected progression from last year. Right now, Masse has racked up 63 points in 57 games (including 17 points in his last 10 games), but after a 2022-23 season that saw him put up 62 points in 65 games, a bigger offensive output seemed to be destined this season. Not much has changed for the Chicoutimi Sageneens, who drafted Masse 3rd overall in 2022, as they have the same coaching staff, and are in virtually the same position in the standings that they ended the season in last year, with the same rank in goals-for. Strangely enough, many of his teammates have had the same lack of progression, including draft-eligible Thomas Desruisseaux, who went from .88 ppg in 2022-23, down to .85 this season. Masse was impressive at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, making an impact in both ends of the rink, and chipping in 5 goals, and 6 points in 5 games. He is the lone player from the Q to be awarded the grade of "A" by Central Scouting, denoting a likely first-round pick.

Masse has all the tools and smarts that one looks for in a power-winger, with high-end offensive skill, and sublime IQ. He's a dual threat, with both scoring prowess, and high-end distribution abilities. He shows creativity in the offensive zone, seeing the lanes before they even appear, and finding open space to make passes to high-danger. Masse is around the net alot, making life difficult for the opposition, creating opportunities for teammates, screening goalies, and getting rebounds and tips. It's hard to move him from in front of the crease. He packs an excellent shot with great power, and a lethal release that creates problems for goalies- his arsenal is deep, with a good drag-and-release, one-timer, backhander, and wrister, and he's deadly in the slot. His off-puck game is a plus, as he knows where to be to maximize his chances, and sees the holes in coverage to make a pass, or to shoot. Masse has capable puck skills, with good puck control, and even better puck protection, and it's hard to strip him of possession- he makes quick pivots to shield the puck, and performs the odd reverse-hit to make room. I believe that reports of his skating being sub-par are false- I think he's got average speed in a straight-line, maybe slightly above, but his mobility does need work. He could use upgrades to his acceleration, east-west, and agility- his top speed is ok, and his mechanics look good.

Masse plays a power game, and is physical, with the ability to win battles in the tough areas of the ice. He is strong along the boards, and down-low behind the goal-line. He's not really a punishing hitter, but will use his size to impose his will, and bully his way around. His work-ethic is solid, he plays with energy, and he forechecks and backchecks tenaciously. Defensively, he gets in shooting lanes, and supports his D down low. He has a smart, active stick with a long reach to disrupt plays, and force opponents into making mistakes. He will throw his body around to separate man from puck, and exhibits good positioning and awareness- however, he sometimes cheats for offense, and can be caught leaving the zone early. Masse's decision-making has been in question at times, as he can make the odd boneheaded pass, and can be forced into mistakes under pressure. He could use more intensity in his game as well. I've read that he's been making an effort this year to simplify his game, in order to cut down on turnovers, and he's focusing much more on his two-way play, which may be affecting his numbers this season. It's also been said that he's been hyper-focused on shooting lately, which might be a good thing, as he's got 17 goals in his last 20 games. I think that the totals on the year don't tell the true story here, and that he's better than most believe- his numbers lately (30 points in his last 20 games) show the player he really is. If he can improve his skating, get bigger and stronger, and keep working on his two-way play, there's a top-6 NHL winger here. With the surge in his numbers lately, he may be taken in the late first round.