Charles Hudon
The Montreal Canadiens drafted Charles Hudon in the 5th round of the 2012 NHL Draft. He proved to be a skilled two-way player at the Junior level, a really good goal scorer in the AHL and looked to be blossoming into a two-way bottom six winger when he scored ten goals and 30 points in 2018-19.
He struggled the following season and then returned to the Laval Rocket, where he scored 27 goals again, before moving on in his career. The Alma, Quebec native went to Switzerland where he played one season, scoring 32 points in 33 games in 2020-21.
Hudon returned to North America the following season. He played the whole year in the AHL, scoring 30 goals and 57 points in 66 games with the Syracuse Crunch. Last season, Hudon was in the Colorado Avalanche organization, where he played most of the year in the minors yet again. He scored 29 goals and 54 points in 61 games. He was called up for nine NHL games but did not register a point.
He is now 29 years old and more of a top minor league player and not an NHL prospect anymore. Still, the Canadiens could use him. They appear to be losing Alex Belzile and Anthony Richard as free agents and could use a scoring threat for the Rocket. Hudon would be a perfect mentor, and linemate, for Joshua Roy who will be starting his AHL career next season.
If the Canadiens trade several veteran forwards, or have several injuries again next season, Hudon is a player that be put into the NHL lineup to fill the void for a short time. However, signing him would be just to add some scoring in the Laval Rocket lineup.