"Maxime played a major role in the Wolves' Calder Cup Championship last season," said Waddell. "He has continued to make great strides in his development, and we're excited to keep him in the organization."
Lajoie, 24, recorded 33 points (4g, 29a) in 60 AHL games with Chicago last season. He added eight points (4g, 4a) in 18 AHL playoff games and scored the series-clinching goal in Game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals at Springfield on June 25. The 6'1," 196-pound defenseman also skated in five NHL games with Carolina in 2021-22. Lajoie has played 67 career NHL regular season games with Ottawa and Carolina, earning 15 points (7g, 8a). He has also registered 87 points (15g, 72a) in 194 career AHL games with Belleville and Chicago. Prior to turning professional, the Quebec City, Que., native spent parts of four seasons in the Western Hockey League with Swift Current from 2014-17, posting 119 points (22g, 97a) and serving as an alternate captain during his final two seasons with the Broncos. Selected by Ottawa in the fifth round, 133rd overall, of the 2016 NHL Draft, Lajoie was acquired by the Hurricanes from the Senators in exchange for Clark Bishop on Jan. 12, 2021.
