The Montreal Canadiens took a flyer on a local kid with the 122nd overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. It is starting to look like that kid will be playing a big role for the Habs in the near future.
The Montreal Canadiens drafted Charles Hudon in the fifth round of the 2012 National Hockey League draft. Someone taken 122nd overall is not expected to make a big splash in the NHL. Hudon hasn’t either, at least not yet.
Hudon however, has made a big impact at every other level of hockey. Playing in his third full season in the American Hockey League, Hudon is once again off to a tremendous start.
The Alma, Quebec native scored 60 points in 63 QMJHL games with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in 2010-11. In his draft year, the 5’10” forward put up an impressive 66 points in 59 games. He followed that up by upping his goal total to 30 and scoring 71 points in 56 contests.
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Hudon finished up his Junior career by scoring 76 points in 57 games. He added 21 points in 22 playoff games for the Baie Comeau Drakkar. Hudon led his team on a lengthy postseason run, but fell in the QMJHL final, losing to the Val d’Or Foreurs in seven games.
Hudon found immediate success in AHL after turning pro
It was on to the AHL for Hudon after wrapping up his impressive Junior career. He had a terrific rookie year in 2014-15, scoring 57 points in 75 games for the Hamilton Bulldogs. This placed the then 20 year old second on the team in scoring behind veteran AHL forward T.J. Hensick.
Last season, Hudon stepped his game up once again. He finished second on the Habs top affiliate in scoring for the second straight year. This time, after a move to St. John’s, the Ice Caps forward scored 28 goals which led the team and 53 points in 67 games.
His point production was very similar for the second consecutive season. However, Hudon started putting the puck in the net himself with more regularity.
Hudon has been able to continue that upward trend in the early going of this season. With a two goal effort last night, leading the Ice Caps to victory, Hudon now has seven goals in just ten games to start the year.
His seven goals has him atop the AHL leader board, tied with Anthony Mantha. Mantha is a Detroit Red Wings first round draft pick who was in Val d’Or when they ousted Hudon’s Drakkar in the QMJHL final.
Canadiens could use Hudon’s two-way presence
This goes to show how far Hudon’s offensive game has developed in a short time. He has always been known as a smart, effective defensive player. Hudon made Team Canada’s World Junior team twice and both times it was because of his great defensive style.
Adding a terrific offensive dimension to his polished defensive game makes Hudon a great all-around forward.
Looking at the Montreal Canadiens, it is hard to criticize a 9-0-1 start. However, they could always use a few more goals in the lineup. The Habs leading goal scorer right now is actually Torrey Mitchell who has five.
The Canadiens are getting pretty balanced scoring throughout their roster. However, there are a few red flags in the lineup. Tomas Plekanec started the year on the second line and has zero goals and three points in ten games. Artturi Lehkonen has three points on the season as well and newcomer Andrew Shaw is playing on a line with Max Pacioretty but has only scored two points this season.
This should open up an opportunity for Hudon. I wouldn’t change the top line of Alex Galchenyuk between Brendan Gallagher and Alex Radulov. However, I would be interested to see Hudon in an offensive role with Pacioretty on his line.
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Could Hudon play center at the NHL level? If so, he would make a terrific two-way trio with Pacioretty and Shaw. If not, he could easily move to right wing and play with Pacioretty and David Desharnais.
A third line role with Plekanec and either Paul Byron or Artturi Lehkonen wouldn’t be a bad role for the 21 year old winger either. He could handle a defensive assignment easily at the NHL level.
Whatever the role is, Hudon should be playing for the Montreal Canadiens. It will happen soon, and the Habs will have another fifth round pick suiting up alongside Gallagher in their lineup.