Ben Maxwell

Ben Maxwell has been recalled from the Hamilton Bulldogs by the Canadiens on the eve of their game in New York and only hours after Tomas Plekanec left practice on Monday with an injury.

Forward Ben Maxwell has been returned this morning to the Hamilton Bulldogs. Suspended Maxim Lapierre, who sat out the past four games, is eligible to return tomorrow vs. Boston.

The Canadiens have recalled forward Ben Maxwell from the Hamilton Bulldogs. He will join the team in Los Angeles.

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After Max Pacioretty, it was Matt D'Agostini's turn to be sent to the Hamilton Bulldogs on Sunday. At the same time, the Canadiens announced the recall of Ben Maxwell.

D'Agostini is in Hamilton on a conditioning stint that he agreed to, meaning he does not have to clear waivers. The stint can last a maximum of two weeks. Pacioretty was told of the demotion Saturday night and is already on his way to Hamilton, soon to be joined by D'Agostini. Maxwell is expected to arrive in Florida Sunday night and gives the team the minimum 20 players with Paul Mara staying in Montreal because of an upper-body injury.

Maxwell, who will be 22 in March, was the Canadiens' second-round draft choice, 49th overall, in 2006.

Last season, the 6'1", 195-pound centre had 22 goals and 36 assists with the Bulldogs. This season, he has 11 goals and 23 assists.

Hockeysfuture.com rates Maxwell as the Canadiens' best prospect. The web site quotes Cory Clouston, who coached Maxwell in Kootenay and went on to the Senators:

 “Depending on who we’re playing, whether it’s a road game or at home, it kind of varies who else he might play with. He’s a key guy for us because when you play teams with three good lines, Ben will be matched up with somebody who has a real good physical presence. Ben is a guy who will make things difficult for opponents. He generally responds quite well in the physical department.”

Canadiens' Ben Maxwell at close quarters Saturday with Washington's Michael Nylander.
Christinne Muschi, Reuters

• AUDIO --> Maxwell interview following Saturday's morning skate (14 mins)

DAVE STUBBS
The Gazette

The message was left on Ben Maxwell's cell phone Friday while he was on an elementary-school visit in Hamilton.

“You've been called up,” the caller told the Hamilton Bulldogs centreman in so many words. “Get on a flight to Montreal.”

It wouldn't have been the first time a hockey player had been pranked by a teammate, arriving at an airport with a duffelbag and a bundle of sticks to find no ticket awaiting him.

But there was no such danger for Maxwell.

“I know Julien BriseBois's voice well enough by now,” he said of the Bulldogs general manager. “He's got that French accent and I could really tell. I don't think anybody else could have pulled it off.”

After last night's game, the Canadiens sent just three players to Hamilton (figuratively speaking; they're not actually leaving for Hamilton tonight):

Ben Maxwell

Matt D'Agostini

Greg Stewart.

The rest of the prospects, including Max Pacioretty, and Yannick Weber, will head up North to Tremblant with the team for their two-day camp in Ste-Jovite.

Ben Maxwell is happy to have survived the first round of cuts, and knows what he has to work on.

(Habs Inside Out video shot by Steph)

Max Pacioretty wowed the crowd at Canadiens' development camp on Friday.

The  big forward scored twice on nifty backhands during the 3-on-3 scrimmages.

On the first goal, Pacioretty drove the net and was slammed after scoring by Andrew Conboy, who was chosen 120 picks after Pacioretty in the 2007 draft. Conboy is a 6'4" bruiser who managed to rack up 188 minutes in penalties playing in the relatively tranquil – by Canadian major-junior standards – USHL.

Conboy will be a freshman at Michigan State this fall. If Pacioretty returns to Michigan – which he probably will – they'll be seeing more of each other.

As Pat Hickey writes in The Gazette today, Trevor Timmins describes Pacioretty as "head and shoulders" above the other prospects at camp.

Take this to the bank, people: Max Pacioretty will be with the big club when the 2009-'10 season begins. And he's going to  be a good one.