Max Sasson Bio
Max Sasson is an American professional ice hockey center who plays for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on September 5, 2000, in Birmingham, Michigan, he developed through the United States Hockey League and the Western Michigan Broncos college program before reaching the professional ranks. Sasson made his NHL debut with the Canucks in November 2024 and has continued to split time between Vancouver and the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League.
Early Life and Background
Max Sasson was born on September 5, 2000, in Birmingham, Michigan, to Alan and Ellen Sasson. He grew up in the metropolitan Detroit area and was introduced to hockey at a young age, following a path that would take him through the top amateur leagues in the United States. Sasson is Jewish and celebrated his bar mitzvah at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, a milestone that reflects the cultural traditions of his family.
He spent his junior ice hockey career with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Across two seasons with the RoughRiders, Sasson recorded 19 goals and 23 assists in 107 regular-season games, gaining valuable experience as a two-way center.
Path to Hockey
Sasson’s path toward college hockey took an unexpected turn during his final USHL campaign. When the August 2020 Midwest derecho caused severe damage to ImOn Ice Arena in Cedar Rapids, the RoughRiders were forced to relocate, and Sasson was reassigned to the Waterloo Black Hawks for the 2020-21 season. He responded with a breakthrough year, leading Waterloo with 20 goals and 49 points in 49 games.
After leaving the USHL, Sasson joined the Western Michigan Broncos for his college ice hockey career. He was named the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Rookie of the Month for January 2022 after a four-game surge in production, and he was also recognized on the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team for maintaining a strong grade point average. During the 2022-23 season, Sasson emerged as the Broncos’ top-line center and helped lead the program to its best NCHC finish in history.
Max Sasson Career
Early Career (2021-2023)
Across two seasons with the Western Michigan Broncos, Sasson produced 24 goals and 64 points in 75 games, establishing himself as a reliable offensive center. He finished the 2022-23 season third on the team with 42 points, including 15 goals, and earned NCHC Player of the Month honors for March 2023 after a five-game run that included a hat trick against the Miami RedHawks.
On March 26, 2023, Sasson signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks. He immediately joined the Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, where he closed out the 2022-23 season on a line with Kyle Rau and Nils Höglander.
AHL Development with the Abbotsford Canucks (2023-2025)
Sasson spent the 2023 offseason focused on adding physicality and strength ahead of his first full professional season. The work paid off, as he posted 18 goals and 42 points in 59 games during the 2023-24 AHL campaign. He added a goal and two assists in six games of the 2024 Calder Cup playoffs as Abbotsford made a postseason push.
Sasson opened the 2024-25 season with Abbotsford and led the team with nine points through the first 16 games of the year. On June 23, 2025, he won the Calder Cup as a member of the Abbotsford Canucks, cementing his development into a championship-level professional. He also began the 2025-26 season in Abbotsford before being recalled by Vancouver.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2024-Present)
Sasson made his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators on November 23, 2024, after being called up due to injuries affecting Brock Boeser and J. T. Miller. He recorded his first NHL point in the 4-3 victory, assisting on Teddy Blueger’s second-period goal, and posted two assists over his first five games with Vancouver before being returned to Abbotsford on December 5, 2024. Sasson scored his first career NHL goal against the Boston Bruins on December 14, 2024, in a 5-1 loss.
He was recalled again on October 14, 2025, replacing Braeden Cootes after Cootes was returned to the Seattle Thunderbirds. On December 15, 2025, Sasson signed a two-year, $2 million contract extension with the Canucks, underscoring his growing role within the organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sasson is recognized as a smart, two-way center with a strong offensive ceiling and improving physical presence. His production has historically spiked on power plays and in the second half of seasons, suggesting a player who builds into games and series. His AHL production, including a 42-point season and a Calder Cup title, reflects his ability to drive a top line.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Max Sasson’s career include his Calder Cup championship with Abbotsford on June 23, 2025, his first NHL point against Ottawa in November 2024, and his first NHL goal against Boston in December 2024. He also earned NCHC Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month honors during his time at Western Michigan.
Max Sasson Career Wins
Max Sasson’s most prominent team championship came on June 23, 2025, when he won the Calder Cup with the Abbotsford Canucks. Across the USHL, college, and AHL levels, he has also contributed to deep postseason runs, including a strong 2024 Calder Cup playoff showing and Western Michigan’s best-ever NCHC finish.
AHL Highlights
In the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, Sasson recorded 18 goals and 42 points during the 2023-24 season and added playoff production the following spring. He lifted the Calder Cup in 2025 as a key member of Vancouver’s top developmental affiliate.
Junior and College Highlights
With the Waterloo Black Hawks in 2020-21, Sasson led the team in both goals and points. At Western Michigan, he was a top-line center, an NCHC award winner, and a key contributor to the program’s record-setting conference finish.
Max Sasson Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Max Sasson is the son of Alan and Ellen Sasson, who raised him in Birmingham, Michigan. He is Jewish and celebrated his bar mitzvah at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, a tradition that remains an important part of his family background.
Personal Life
Public details about Sasson’s personal life remain limited. He stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs approximately 182 pounds, the listed measurements that accompany his professional profile.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 season marked Max Sasson’s arrival on the NHL stage. After leading the Abbotsford Canucks with nine points through 16 games, he was called up to Vancouver and made an immediate impact, recording his first NHL point and his first NHL goal within weeks of his debut. Despite a brief return to Abbotsford in December, he finished the year as a Calder Cup champion.
Sasson began the 2025-26 season in Abbotsford before another NHL recall in mid-October, signaling that he remains firmly in the Canucks’ plans. His two-year, $2 million contract extension signed on December 15, 2025, gives him long-term security and reflects the organization’s confidence in his continued growth.
Looking ahead, Sasson is positioned to compete for a full-time role with the Vancouver Canucks while continuing to develop his two-way game. With a Calder Cup already on his resume and a stabilized contract, his 2025-26 outlook centers on earning a consistent NHL spot and contributing to Vancouver’s push toward the Stanley Cup playoffs.