The odds of signing a college free agent and developing them into a legitimate NHL contributor remain slim. But during the 2025–26 season, the Vancouver Canucks found one of those rare success stories in Max Sasson.

After splitting time between the AHL and NHL in 2024–25, the 25-year-old made the full-time leap this season, appearing in 66 games with Vancouver and establishing himself as a semi-regular in the lineup. For a player who arrived as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan University, it’s a notable development and one that has quickly shifted the conversation from “can he stick?” to “what is he?”

That’s where things get interesting.

Sasson’s path to the NHL hasn’t been and wasn’t necessarily expected to be immediate. It took two full seasons of development before he earned a consistent role, but along the way, he proved to have a defining tool: speed. Among NHL skaters this season, he ranked in the 97th percentile (according to NHL Edge) in max skating speed, a trait that consistently shows up in his ability to create separation and pressure against defenders.

Now, the question is whether that translates into a long-term role at centre, or if his future lies elsewhere in the lineup.

Given his waiver-exempt status, Sasson faced an uphill battle to make the team out of training camp. As expected, he was assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks to begin the season. But it didn’t take long for him to force the issue. Fresh off contributing to a Calder Cup-winning roster, the Birmingham, Michigan native picked up right where he left off, scoring in each of his first two AHL games. That immediate impact earned him a quick recall, coinciding with first-round pick Braeden Cootes returning to the WHL.

Sasson didn’t waste the opportunity and brought that scoring touch to the NHL ranks. He scored in his first two NHL games and found the back of the net three times in his first five appearances, providing an early spark. While that scoring pace eventually cooled — as probably expected — the underlying results remained encouraging. He finished the season with 13 goals, tied for fifth on the team, while setting new career highs across the board.

On the surface, 13 goals (not to mention his 21.1 percent shooting rate) don’t jump off the page. But Sasson spent nearly the entire season in a bottom-six role, averaging just 11:43 of ice time per game. Within that limited usage, he still managed to provide secondary scoring, driven by his speed and relentless work ethic.

Beyond the offence, he contributed in other areas, finishing second among Vancouver forwards in blocked shots with 36 and posting a 50.1 percent Corsi—one of only two forwards on the roster (excluding Curtis Douglas) to finish above the break-even mark.

With a manageable $1 million cap hit over the next two seasons, Sasson has already proven himself to be a useful piece during this phase of the Canucks’ rebuild. The question now isn’t whether he belongs, but where he fits best.

At even strength, his skating allows him to be effective in all three zones. He can pressure pucks, track back defensively, and create separation in transition. Those are traits that translate across any position, but the challenge comes in the details required to play centre at the NHL level.

Through 290 faceoffs, Sasson posted a 42.1 percent win rate — worst among all full-time centres on the team – and was an area that remains a clear limitation. While faceoffs alone don’t define a centre, they are a major and necessary factor, particularly in defensive situations. At this stage, it’s difficult to rely on him in those moments, which naturally caps his usage down the middle.

And with internal competition mounting, that role may become even harder to hold. Prospects like Braeden Cootes are expected to push for NHL minutes as early as next season, while players such as Aatu Räty continue to occupy similar depth roles. That creates a natural squeeze, one that may ultimately push Sasson toward the wing, where his strengths can be maximized without the added responsibilities of playing centre.

At this point, Sasson has shown that he can be a useful NHL player. His speed, work rate, and ability to contribute in limited minutes make him a valuable depth option, particularly on a team still working through a rebuild.

But the ceiling remains tied to how his game evolves. If he can improve his faceoff ability and continue to round out the finer details of his game, there’s a path to holding down a centre role in the bottom six. If not, there’s still clear value in what he brings on the wing—a player who can push pace, kill plays, and chip in offence without needing top-end usage.

Either way, for an undrafted free agent, his come-up already is a win as a low-cost depth piece.