2017 Draft: Maxime Comtois plays with passion, drive

Every Thursday, NHL.com will look ahead to the 2017 NHL Draft with an in-depth profile on one of its top prospects.
Forward Maxime Comtois of Victoriaville in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League considers the hockey rink his playground.
Victoriaville coach Louis Robitaille can confirm that.

"We have to keep him away from the rink once in a while; he's always there," Robitaille said. "The thing is, as a 17-year-old kid who everyone knows is a top prospect for the 2017 NHL Draft, being at the rink and around your teammates and the coaching staff sometimes helps takes some of that pressure off."
Comtois (6-foot-2, 199 pounds), chosen in the first round (No. 3) by Victoriaville in the 2015 QMJHL entry draft, is an A rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's players to watch list for the 2017 NHL Draft. Expected to be a top 10 selection in the draft, Comtois has gotten off to a relatively slow start this season with eight goals and 10 assists in 30 games, though he's second on Victoriaville with 82 shots on goal.
"When I go to the rink, I want to work, I want to make a difference each and every game and I don't care who's in front of me," Comtois said. "I work hard, like to go to the net. I like doing extra things on the ice after practice. I want to be the one putting the puck in the net, I want to get the win for my team."

Comtois has a lot of needs, but what NHL scout or general manager wouldn't appreciate the passion he has in wanting to make a difference?
"Comtois is highly skilled but highly competitive; it's competitive in a sense that he plays with a little bit of an edge," director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "So you have to be wary of him because he can go out there and be a scoring threat. But you also need to keep your head up when playing for the puck."
Comtois gained an appreciation of the game through his father, Stephane, whose hockey career lasted through midget AAA before being cut short because of injury.
"Dad played hockey when he was a kid and he grew up in a hockey family, so I was happy to grow up in that too," Comtois said. "It's our sport in Canada, so I watched the Montreal Canadiens when I was young. My dad brought me to the games and we went on the ice to skate too."
Comtois was among the 22 players picked to play for Team QMJHL against Russia in the 2016 Canada Russia Series in Chicoutimi, Quebec, and Baie Comeau, Quebec. The games were the final two of the six-game series that served as another step in picking the teams that will play for Canada and Russia at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship in Toronto and Montreal from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5.
It was an opportunity Comtois didn't take for granted. He scored twice and had a plus-1 rating in the two games.
"It was a big surprise for me because you aren't used to seeing young players on that roster," Comtois said. "It's just another experience that I'll learn a lot from. My main goal is to get drafted, win a Stanley Cup with my team.
"Playing hockey has been a dream since I was a kid. Getting drafted and playing in the NHL is what drives me."
Comtois joined two players on Team QMJHL picked in the first round of the 2016 draft, Cape Breton forward Pierre-Luc Dubois (No. 3, Columbus Blue Jackets) and Val-d'Or forward Julien Gauthier (No. 21, Carolina Hurricanes).

Some scouts believe Comtois offers a similar skill set as Dubois.
"I coached [Dubois] at the 2015 World Under-18 Junior Championship in Switzerland and can say Maxime is a new age power forward with a lot of skill and above average hockey sense," Robitaille said. "[Comtois] is a guy whose office is around the net compared to Pierre-Luc, who likes to shoot the puck from the outside and crash afterwards. They are big boys who play the game the right way and they're complete players, so that makes them special.
"I'll say this: If Comtois is similar to Dubois that's good for him because Pierre-Luc was a top-three pick. Maxime will have a great NHL career."
Comtois, like Dubois, can play all three forward positons but admits that as a left-handed shot he's most comfortable on right wing. Robitaille has had Comtois play all three positions this season; he has a 43.5 percent efficiency on faceoffs (50-of-115).
"Dubois is probably a little more well-rounded, but they both have a competitive edge, drive and determination in their game," said Ryan Jankowski, head scout for Hockey Canada.
Comtois is playing left wing for Victoriaville, but his puck skills are such that he can also excel on his off wing.
"[Comtois] isn't putting up the same points as Dubois did a year ago," said Troy Dumville of NHL Central Scouting. "Dubois was fortunate to have Evgeny Svechnikov (Detroit Red Wings) as his center but continued the scoring groove even after they were separated. Comtois is taking time to find his offense but will no doubt start putting up points with his skill set being what it is.
"He is competing hard and is playing in all situations."