Now or never for Hudon also... Guy has been drafted in 2012. Four years ago, now. He's turning 23 soon.
He's turning 23 in June 2017..
I think they just let him over ripen. I don't think it's a 'he's not good enough' or 'the org doesn't think he's good enough' situation. he can still play another year with out going through waivers so it's hardly now or never.
We'll be seeing plenty of him this year I'm sure.
There's still time with him, he just turned 22. It's not like he's failed to show any upside, he impressed in both of his years in the AHL. Fun fact, only one player Montreal drafted from that "supposedly good" 2012 class made the team and it's Galchenyuk. Hudon is the only one left with real NHL potential.
I think Hudon makes good trade bait but there is something in his game that the habs brass are not pleased with.
He has been passed by other players on the depth chart. Even last year with all the injuries other players got more of a chance then him. It's not like we didn't play young players he just didn't beat out the other guys.
I think even a guy like Scherback if he impresses this year can jump over him too. Right now he is behind guys like Ghetto/Carr/McCarron/Dano. Scherback is knocking on the door along with Lekhonen as well. Thats 6 guys right there that Hudon needs to beat out not to mention fringe guys like Matteau/Reway/Audette etc..
Who passed him?
Holloway? Older.
Lessio? Older.
Thomas? Older.
Carr? Older.
Andrighetto? Older.
Matteau? was waiver eligible (IIRC) and shiny new skater they got for a NHL skater so had to play
Danault? Older. (also could you please stop spelling him as Dano all the time, it's not Marko Dano)
The only one that arguably passed him are JDLR and McCarron who were both used in a shutdown role not suited for Hudon.
I've seen that statement made by several poster, but I have yet to find any proof of it.
Agree, I don't think that Hudon has not been passed by other players on the depth chart. Management simply chose to be patient with him, often comparing his situation to Plekanec back in the days. When asked about Hudon last year, both Bergevin and Therrien mentioned that for some type of players, it is beneficial to spend more time in the AHL before jumping in the NHL and that Plekanec spent 3 full years seasoning in the AHL.
Everyone knows that the organization has Plekanec playing a vital role on this team. I think Begervin / Therrien penciled Hudon being a player with the potential to play a similar role for the team in the future. It's a role that requires consistency, maturity and taking on big responsibilities. I believe that could be one of the reasons why they preferred having Hudon in the AHL. To work on his strength and develop consistency, playing a stable and important role in the AHL as opposed to patching holes in the NHL.
I expect Hudon to make the jump to the NHL post-expansion draft. I think that keeping him in the AHL one last year could be part of the strategy to not lose him in the draft (like signing Radulov for only one year so that we won't have to protect him for the draft.)
I think Las Vegas would be less interested in Hudon if he only has a good season in the AHL compared to showing his real worth in the NHL. I also think that we can afford waiting one more year for him with other prospects knocking on the NHL door/still looking to establish their place in the NHL.
If Hudon shows that he is ready this year, he should play in the NHL. If he's better than other players, then you make room for him on the team and protect him.
Hudon for whatever reason appears to not be in the team's plans...too bad. He seems to have upside. This camp is make or break.
If he kills it during this training camp and the team does not make room for him, then there would be a valid reason to believe he's not on the team's plans. Until that happens, it's all just speculation.
I personally don't think if Hudon doesn't make the big team, he's not seen as part of the team's future. I would like to see him push for a spot at camp though. He's about to enter his third pro season, and after two or three pro seasons is when I start to look for our prospects to at least challenge for a spot.
If he goes to the AHL after camp, it doesn't spell the end for Hudon with the Canadiens. We have to remember he's not waiver eligible and it could be the reason he will get sent down. While ideally it should be the better player gets the spot, it's not as simple with the different types of contracts.
I will say I believe that Hudon will shine at training camp and will force management to think hard about whatt to do next.
I believe management always had a plan for him, it's just one that required seasoning in the AHL. It's now about whether the plan pans out or not and if he will become that player they want him to be.
