Unexpected turnaround: Forward Maxime Comtois could be acquired for free by Kent Hughes

After getting 31 wins in 2021-2022, being in the playoff race for most of the season, before slowing down in the final weeks of the schedule, the Ducks are experiencing a dismal regression.

They currently sit 29th in the league with just three points separating them from last place in the standings. With only 23 wins so far and less than a dozen games to go, it's almost pathetic.

Moreover, things seem to be in flux in the Anaheim office, as there were many trade rumors involving players from the team, including Maxime Comtois, before the trade deadline. However, management decided to keep the number 44.

However, it seems that he is no longer appreciated by the team. According to information offered by Renaud Lavoie, on TVA Sports Friday night, his general manager has done everything to get rid of him.

Luckily for him, his contract expires this summer and all indications are that the Ducks could let him go for free by not submitting a qualifying offer to retain his rights.

In the eyes of the journalist, this situation proves that this franchise is one of the least well managed in the NHL, while we can see the lack of strategy of the Ducks.

It has to be said that Comtois' early career is a bit of a mirror image of the team that drafted him in the second round in 2017.

Indeed, the 24-year-old Quebecer has slowed down tremendously over the past two campaigns, even though he had hit the ground running in his second professional season, when he had 16 goals and 33 points in 55 games.

This year, playing primarily on the bottom two lines, Comtois has only eight goals and 17 points in 58 games.

However, the 6-foot-2, 201-pound forward still has a lot of potential for a team that would like to give him a real chance to make it in the NHL.

He could become a damn fine bet for a team that would like to buy low, sell high like the Habs.

Credit: Rumorsandtransaction.com