Maksymilian Szuber now has his contract, giving Martin St-Louis another big defenseman to evaluate when Canadiens training camp opens.
The Montreal Canadiens signed Szuber to a one-year, two-way deal covering the 2026-27 season. The move completes the next step after Kent Hughes acquired him from the Utah Mammoth on June 29.
Montreal sent forward Joshua Roy to Utah in that trade, creating immediate pressure on Szuber to become more than organizational depth.
The 23-year-old brings a 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame to a blue line already loaded with young options. His contract structure gives Montreal flexibility to move him between the Canadiens and Laval.
Szuber earned this opportunity with a strong offensive season for the Tucson Roadrunners. He recorded 27 points in 65 AHL games, including 11 goals.
Those 11 goals led Tucson defensemen, while his point total ranked third among the club's players at his position. That production puts him firmly in the mix for a meaningful role in Laval.
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Szuber enters a crowded Canadiens competition
The NHL opening won't be easy. St-Louis will have several defensemen pushing for minutes, and Szuber has only appeared in one NHL game, which came with the Arizona Coyotes in 2023-24.
But his size, left-shot profile and recent scoring touch give the coaching staff something worth testing. A strong camp could move him ahead of other depth options when injuries or roster changes arrive.
The two-way agreement also removes uncertainty around his immediate future. Montreal didn't acquire Szuber simply to hold his rights; management now has him under contract and available for the full season.
Szuber has already handled pressure outside North America. He helped Munich capture the DEL championship in 2022-23 before earning a silver medal with Germany at the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
Originally selected 163rd overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, Szuber has developed faster than his sixth-round status suggested. His AHL output shows there may still be another level in his game.
The Canadiens aren't handing him an NHL job. They're giving him a clear runway to compete for one, while strengthening Laval's blue line if he starts the season in the AHL.
For St-Louis, the question will be whether Szuber's defensive reads and puck movement can match his physical tools. For Szuber, training camp is now a real audition with a contract already secured.
Will Maksymilian Szuber earn NHL games with Montreal this season?
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