Prospect Info: Charles Hudon (Recalled)

[Et le But]

Better hands and worse skater. Could end up being a similarly productive player who can take tough matchups...but needs to show more durability.

 

[Sorinth]

Hudon in his first pro season has more offense than Ghetto or Thomas, both older but still projected NHL players. Hudon obviously has exceptional trait in some area to be able to do this. Likely, a Ray Ferraro type, he naturally knows where to be on ice to create offense. So, it looks real good for him.

Plekanec played 3 full seasons in Hamilton before he was able to make the jump to NHL. I haven't seen any Hamilton games this season, going by stats Hudon may be able to make the jump this spring. Could be a good addition for the playoffs. Something Serge Savard employed, bring up top prospect late in season in hopes they add for playoffs. He was able to do fairly sucessful many playoff years, in rookies like Lemieux, Chelios, Brunet or Desjardins.

To be fair Plekanec was expected to make the jump to the NHL heading into that 3rd year but the NHL season was lost because of the lockout year.

And I'm not sure Ghetto or Thomas are really projected to be NHL players. They have a chance but it's 50/50 at best for both of them.

 

[Fazkovsky]

Hopefully not a Corey locke

 

[SOLR]

I agree, durable is his weekness i think, lets hope he proves us wrong ....

Just like Plekanec when he was young...

 

[SOLR]

I say no. Hudon looks more like a Cammalleri lite

I see you don't actually watch players play. Nobody on earth watching him would say that.

 

[SOLR]

If Hudon can improve his skating he will be an NHLer. That's the key

Not really. Like Giroux, Hudon doesn't need to be that fast. He's slowing down the game. Skating is important for the kind of players that absolutely needs to win races. Hudon is not one such player because he will gain control of the puck at his speed.

 

[ottawa]

I say no. Hudon looks more like a Cammalleri lite

I say you've never seen him play lol

 

[waffledave]

You know, when Pleks first came up he was NEVER projected to be what he is today.

Everyone had him pegged as a good 3rd line, two-way centre. This is always what he was supposed to be.

His scoring was a bit of a surprise.

 

[De Montreal]

I made a prediction similar with Bournival last year when he was tearing it up. I have more reserve now about that.

 

[Ohashi_Jouzu*]

I still don't see any reason to expect Hudon to crack the NHL level with any real success - let alone Plekanec-type success. The wussier the NHL makes itself, the better his chances, though.

 

[waffledave]

I made a prediction similar with Bournival last year when he was tearing it up. I have more reserve now about that.

I get overzealous with my predictions too.

My favorite was when I was convinced Benoit Pouliot was the next Vinny Lecavalier.

Montreal Benoit Pouliot, too.

 

[Shutdown]

He needs to put on some muscle, but he can definitely become a middle 6 player. And I have a feeling he and McCarron could do some real damage together in the AHL next year. They seem like they would complement each other well.

 

[TRG]

I get overzealous with my predictions too.

My favorite was when I was convinced Benoit Pouliot was the next Vinny Lecavalier.

Montreal Benoit Pouliot, too.

He's not far from being a Lecavalier these days. Well, a washed up Lecavalier.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I wouldn't be opposed to him becoming a Rich Peverley type player.

 

[muzion]

Not many similarities between the two aside from being hard workers. Stylistically they contrast. Plekanec looks to push the pace and execute at high speeds whereas Hudon slows it down and goes through his options, while also having the ability to create something out of nothing. Defensively the former relies on strong positioning while the latter anticipates where the play is going and sets traps, in addition to picking pockets.

 

[Andrei79]

I love the guy, he's been my favorite Habs prospect since he was drafted. I'd be surprised if he didn't turn out to be an NHLer for a long, long time.

 

[Hoople]

The better question would be "how does he compare to Louis Leblanc?"

Louis had a fast start in the AHL and was not durable.

I guess time will tell and I hope he takes a different path than Leblanc. We always need Center depth.

 

[HuGo Sham]

The better question would be "how does he compare to Louis Leblanc?"

Louis had a fast start in the AHL and was not durable.

I guess time will tell and I hope he takes a different path than Leblanc. We always need Center depth.

fair point. hudon has a much higher hockey IQ and better work ethic. He is top 6 material IF he can get bigger and of course, avoid injury

 

[Ohashi_Jouzu*]

I love the guy, he's been my favorite Habs prospect since he was drafted. I'd be surprised if he didn't turn out to be an NHLer for a long, long time.

Why? Same hometown? Family?

 

[WeThreeKings]

The better question would be "how does he compare to Louis Leblanc?"

Louis had a fast start in the AHL and was not durable.

I guess time will tell and I hope he takes a different path than Leblanc. We always need Center depth.

Hudon has hockey IQ.. Actually shows he wants to be on the ice. Oh yeah, he also has offensive tools..

Leblanc was a steaming pile of useless and I don't care about his USHL production or McKenzie's rankings.. I never saw anything from him that said, oh that's his skillset.

 

[Whitesnake]

I have to say, I never thought he had the start of season he's having now. Just don't see him with some offensive numbers to show for in the pros and yet, he does. We'll see how that continues. He needs to be faster and stronger. But as of now, what he's doing is great to see. And frankly at one point, you need to show as an organization that you are indeed noticing when something great happens....Hudon would deserve a callup at this point even if he could struggle with the physical aspect of it. Don't need to be too many games, a few games even if it's for him to see what he needs to improve to be a NHL'er.

 

[Patty Roy]

The next Benoit Brunet (i dont mean that as an insult...)?

 

[SOLR]

The better question would be "how does he compare to Louis Leblanc?"

Louis had a fast start in the AHL and was not durable.

I guess time will tell and I hope he takes a different path than Leblanc. We always need Center depth.

What?! Do I need to pay the coffee around here? Durability applies to every player.

That being said, Leblanc and Hudon can not be more different. Let's stop wanting to compare all of these guys. Hudon is Hudon, he will have the career he will have.

 

[SOLR]

I have to say, I never thought he had the start of season he's having now. Just don't see him with some offensive numbers to show for in the pros and yet, he does. We'll see how that continues. He needs to be faster and stronger. But as of now, what he's doing is great to see. And frankly at one point, you need to show as an organization that you are indeed noticing when something great happens....Hudon would deserve a callup at this point even if he could struggle with the physical aspect of it. Don't need to be too many games, a few games even if it's for him to see what he needs to improve to be a NHL'er.

Keep the successful ones down for their first full year before they start doing the yo-yo. This is how you build momentum. Let him have his 60+ pts season in peace, become a leader with the Bulldogs. Then next year, yo-yo, unless he dominates the camp that is.

I remember in the 90s how they would keep them down, without much yo-yo. Stefan Lebeau(130+ pts season?) is an example and this is what the Wings have kept doing.

 

[CanadienShark]

If Hudon can improve his skating he will be an NHLer. That's the key

Send him to the Sharks organization, we'll fix his skating.