Hammers Sign Forward Max Ellis to AHL Deal

The Hamilton Hammers have signed forward Max Ellis to a one-year AHL contract, the team announced Aug. 4.

Ellis, 26, spent the 2025-26 season in the KHL, where he split the year between HK Sochi and the Shanghai Dragons and posted 16 goals and 14 assists for 30 points in 52 games. The 5-foot-9, 172-pound forward is a native of Plymouth, Michigan.

Before heading overseas, Ellis played 87 AHL games with the Toronto Marlies, recording 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points. The former Maple Leafs prospect now joins the New York Islanders organization after two years abroad. He arrived in the pro ranks out of Notre Dame, where he put up 22 goals and 23 assists for 45 points in 71 games over three seasons.

The Hammers are the Islanders' AHL affiliate, relocated from Bridgeport, Connecticut, and 2026-27 marks their inaugural season in Hamilton, where they will play at TD Coliseum following a $300 million renovation. Jay McKee is the head coach, and Evan Gold, hired as an Islanders assistant general manager and GM of the Hammers, came over after 12 seasons in the Boston organization, most recently as GM of a Providence club that posted the AHL's best regular-season record last year at 54-16-2-0.

Hamilton will compete in the AHL's North Division alongside Belleville, Cleveland, Laval, Rochester, Syracuse, Toronto and Utica, with the 2026-27 season set to begin this fall.