Max Lajoie Bio
Maxime Lajoie is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Born on November 5, 1997, in Quebec City, Quebec, Lajoie was selected 133rd overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2016 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 183 pounds, he shoots left and has built his career as a reliable, defence-first blueliner. He has also represented the Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Seattle Kraken organizations, splitting time between the NHL and the American Hockey League (AHL).
After beginning his professional career in 2017, Lajoie developed through the AHL ranks with the Belleville Senators, Chicago Wolves, and Toronto Marlies, where he won a Calder Cup championship in 2022. In the summer of 2025, he opted to take his game abroad, signing a one-year deal with Avangard Omsk to begin a new chapter of his career in Russia.
Early Life and Background
Maxime Lajoie was born on November 5, 1997, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. During his early childhood, his family moved several times across the country, eventually settling in Montreal, Quebec, then Toronto, Ontario, and finally Calgary, Alberta, by the time he was seven years old. Growing up in multiple Canadian cities gave him early exposure to a variety of hockey environments and helped shape his understanding of the game.
French is Lajoie’s first language, although he has since become fully bilingual. The combination of his Quebec roots and exposure to English-speaking hockey markets across Canada contributed to his comfort in bilingual team environments. From a young age, he developed into a dependable, defence-oriented defenceman whose game has long been built around positioning, penalty killing, and composure under pressure.
Although details about his formal education are not publicly documented, his developmental path followed the traditional Canadian junior hockey route, eventually leading him to be ranked among the top defencemen available in his draft year.
Path to Hockey
Lajoie’s path to professional hockey ran through the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), where he suited up for the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The Broncos selected him 95th overall in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft, and he joined the team for the 2013-14 season, appearing in one game before earning a full-time roster spot in 2014-15. Over the next three seasons, he steadily increased his production rate and grew into one of the Broncos’ most trusted players.
During his final junior season, Lajoie served as an alternate captain for Swift Current, a clear sign of his leadership value. His development in the WHL caught the attention of NHL scouts, and he was selected 133rd overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. His former coach, former Senator Mark Lamb, called the pick a ‘steal’ at that position, citing Lajoie’s role as his junior team’s top penalty killer, shutdown defenceman, and assistant captain.
On October 3, 2016, Lajoie signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators and attended his first professional training camp, formally beginning his transition to the professional ranks.
Max Lajoie Career
Early Career (2017-2018)
Lajoie turned professional in September 2017, joining the Belleville Senators of the AHL. Shortly after, he was briefly assigned to the ECHL’s Brampton Beast, appearing in one game before returning to Belleville. He spent the bulk of the 2017-18 season adjusting to the pace and physicality of professional hockey while continuing to refine his two-way game.
His development in Belleville set the stage for a successful NHL training camp the following fall, where he earned a roster spot with the Ottawa Senators heading into the 2018-19 season.
Ottawa Senators Era (2018-2021)
Lajoie made his NHL debut on October 4, 2018, scoring a goal and an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. He became only the second Ottawa defenceman, after Wade Redden, to score a goal in his NHL debut, an early sign of the offensive touch he could provide from the back end. He went on to play 56 games for the Senators that season, finishing with 7 goals and 15 points while adding three games with Belleville.
To begin the 2019-20 season, Ottawa assigned Lajoie to Belleville, where he played the bulk of the year, recording 4 goals and 17 points in 48 games before the AHL suspended play in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the pandemic-delayed 2020-21 training camp, Ottawa traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes on January 12, 2021, in exchange for Clark Bishop, closing out his time with the Senators organization.
Carolina Hurricanes Era (2021-2023)
After being acquired by the Hurricanes, Lajoie was assigned to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves, where he posted 6 goals and 21 points in 27 games. He was later recalled during the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, making his postseason debut in Game 3’s double-overtime loss to the Nashville Predators. The following year, he was named captain of the Wolves and was selected to the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic, scoring 11 goals and 45 points in 63 games during the 2022-23 season.
His most significant accomplishment with the Hurricanes organization came in 2022, when he won the Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves, scoring the game-winning goal in the championship-clinching victory over the Springfield Thunderbirds. He also contributed 4 goals and 8 points during that playoff run. On August 6, 2022, Carolina re-signed him to a one-year contract extension.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2023-2024)
On July 1, 2023, Lajoie signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent. After attending training camp, he was placed on waivers and subsequently assigned to the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. He spent most of the 2023-24 season with the Marlies, appearing in 56 games and recording 4 goals and 24 points.
He did receive a brief NHL recall on November 4, 2023, following an injury to Timothy Liljegren, and made his Maple Leafs debut that night against the Buffalo Sabres. He appeared in seven total NHL games for Toronto, registering one assist before being returned to the Marlies for the remainder of the season.
Seattle Kraken and Avangard Omsk Era (2024-Present)
On July 1, 2024, Lajoie signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Seattle Kraken. He went unclaimed on waivers and was assigned to Seattle’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, to open the 2024-25 season. Following the completion of his contract with the Kraken, Lajoie opted to take his career abroad, signing a one-year deal with Avangard Omsk of the KHL on July 22, 2025.
Playing Style and Strengths
Lajoie is widely regarded as a defence-first blueliner whose value comes from his reliability in his own end. Coaches have consistently praised his penalty-killing ability, his composure in shutdown roles, and his leadership qualities, traits that earned him an alternate captaincy in junior and the captaincy with the Chicago Wolves. He complements those defensive strengths with the offensive instincts he displayed during his Ottawa debut and in the AHL playoffs.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Lajoie’s career came on October 4, 2018, when he became the second Ottawa defenceman, after Wade Redden, to score in his NHL debut. He also delivered the game-winning goal in the 2022 Calder Cup Finals for the Chicago Wolves, cementing that championship as the signature achievement of his professional resume to date.
Max Lajoie Career Wins
Across his professional career, Maxime Lajoie’s most significant verified victory came in 2022, when he won the Calder Cup as a member of the Chicago Wolves, the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes. Beyond that championship, his win totals in junior and professional play are not summarized in available verified sources, so additional career win details are limited.
Junior and Professional Highlights
Lajoie’s career win highlights begin with his standout junior run with the Swift Current Broncos, where he progressed from a single game in 2013-14 to alternate captain in his final WHL season. Professionally, his most memorable win was the 2022 Calder Cup clincher over the Springfield Thunderbirds, a performance that defined his leadership year with the Chicago Wolves. He has continued to contribute at every stop, including his current role with Avangard Omsk in the KHL.
Max Lajoie Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Publicly verified information about Maxime Lajoie’s parents, siblings, or extended family is limited. What is documented is that he was born and raised in Quebec City before his family moved through Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary during his early childhood. This cross-country upbringing, combined with his French-Canadian roots, helped shape his bilingual identity and his broad exposure to hockey cultures across the country.
Personal Life
Details about Lajoie’s spouse, children, or current residence are not publicly documented in available verified sources. He is known to be bilingual in French and English, a reflection of his Quebec upbringing and time spent in English-speaking Canadian hockey markets.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marks a significant transition for Maxime Lajoie. After spending the 2024-25 season in the Seattle Kraken organization, primarily with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, Lajoie entered the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. On July 22, 2025, he signed a one-year contract with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, signaling his decision to pursue opportunities abroad for the first time in his professional career.
The move to the KHL represents both a competitive and cultural shift, as Lajoie transitions from the North American professional system to one of Europe’s top leagues. His role with Avangard Omsk is expected to centre on the same defensive strengths that defined his AHL career, including penalty killing, reliable two-way play, and veteran leadership on the back end.
For the 2025-26 season, Lajoie’s outlook with Avangard Omsk will depend on his adaptation to the international style of play and his ability to earn a consistent role on the team’s defensive depth chart. Given his steady track record of growth at every professional stop, the KHL chapter offers a new opportunity to extend his career on a global stage.