News you can use: More on the Ben Maxwell signing

Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Free Press has confirmed that the Winnipeg Jets have signed C/LW Ben Maxwell, to a one-year, $715,000 contract. Read Ed Tait’s article here.

Maxwell is only 23 years old and to date has only had a cup of tea at the NHL Level (32 games, 2 points). The former member of the Kootenay Ice has decent size (6’1”) and is a creative offensive player who has averaged 50 points over the last three seasons in The American Hockey playing mainly for the Hamilton Bulldogs. Maxwell is not a physically imposing player but does alright in the physical department. Maxwell has at times looked out of place at the NHL level but it should be noted that he wasn’t given a lot of playing time with the Habs and often only received minimal fourth line minutes.

As we mentioned in our Updated Winnipeg Jets Team Depth Chart Article, Maxwell is currently the team’s 6th ranked centre and will most likely be competing with Rick Rypien, Jim Slater,Tanner Glass and Jason Gregoire for third and fourth line forward duties. It should be noted that Maxwell can play left wing and is probably higher on the Jets depth chart for that reason.

I like Maxwell’s game and I think he has a good chance of playing full-time in the NHL next year. I can see him playing 30-50 games or more for the Jets next year if he has a strong training camp and shows more offensive potential than some of the other young players currently in the system.