The Montreal Canadiens have officially signed defenseman Maksymilian Szuber to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-2027 season. The announcement was made by Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes on Monday, August 3, 2026. This deal follows Szuber's acquisition from the Utah Mammoth on June 29, 2026, in exchange for forward prospect Joshua Roy.
Szuber, a 23-year-old German-born player, spent last season with the Tucson Roadrunners in the AHL, where he recorded 27 points in 65 games, including a career-high 11 goals. His offensive production ranked him as the top-scoring defenseman for the Laval Rocket and third on the Tucson Roadrunners roster for his position. Selected 163rd overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Szuber has developed significantly in the AHL, exceeding expectations for his draft position.
The addition of Szuber provides the Canadiens with depth on their blue line and adds a player with a strong defensive game and a developing offensive upside. His contract structure allows for flexibility, with the potential to play for both the Canadiens and their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. Szuber brings valuable experience, including a DEL championship with Munich and a silver medal with Germany at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. His signing concludes the next step in his integration into the Canadiens organization after the trade that sent Joshua Roy to Utah.
Szuber's NHL experience is limited to one game with the Arizona Coyotes during the 2023-24 season. However, his size, left-shot profile, and recent scoring touch present an intriguing option for the Canadiens' coaching staff as they evaluate their defensive depth. The one-year agreement removes immediate contract uncertainty and allows Szuber to fully focus on competing for a more significant role within the Canadiens' system.
