Charles Hudon

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| former_teams = Montreal Canadiens
Colorado Avalanche
Lausanne HC

| image = AA3I0749 (49447578396).jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Hudon with the Laval Rocket in 2020

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|6|23}}

| birth_place = Alma, Quebec, Canada

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lb = 196

| position = Left wing

| shoots = Left

| league = AHL

| team = Ontario Reign

| draft = 122nd overall

| draft_year = 2012

| draft_team = Montreal Canadiens

| career_start = 2013

}}

Charles Simard-Hudon (born June 23, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected in the fifth round, 122nd overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL entry draft. Hudon has also previously played for the Colorado Avalanche.

Playing career

Hudon played his amateur midget hockey within his native Quebec with the Saint-Eustache Vikings of the QMAAA. He was drafted to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, 6th overall by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. Following two prolific seasons in the QMJHL he was selected in the 2012 NHL entry draft by the Montreal Canadiens.

On May 5, 2013, Hudon was signed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens.{{cite web| url = http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=669236 | title = Canadiens sign Charles Hudon to three-year deal | publisher = Montreal Canadiens | date = May 5, 2013 | accessdate = January 2, 2016}} During his last junior season in 2013–14, continuing as the Saguenéens captain, Hudon lead the offense with 41 points in 33 games before he was traded to Baie-Comeau Drakkar. He helped Drakkar to the President Cup Finals, co-leading the team in goals with 10 and finishing third amongst points with 21.

In his first full professional season in 2014–15, Hudon was assigned to the Canadiens AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs. Hudon quickly assumed a top-line scoring role and recorded a spectacular rookie season with 57 points in 75 games. Finishing second amongst the Bulldogs in scoring and second amongst rookie's league-wide, Hudon was selected to the AHL All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web| url = http://theahl.com/2014-15-ahl-all-rookie-team-announced-p197276 | title = 2014-15 All-Rookie Team Announced | publisher = American Hockey League | date = April 8, 2015 | accessdate = January 2, 2016}} Hudon was also selected to the AHL All-Star Game, posting 3 goals and an assist to earn co-MVP honors.{{cite web| url = http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/bulldogs-hudon-nets-hat-trick-in-ahl-all-star-win/ | title = Bulldogs Hudon nets hat-trick in AHL All-Star win | publisher = Sportsnet.ca | date = January 23, 2015 | accessdate = January 2, 2016}}

In the following 2015–16 season, Hudon was initially reassigned to new AHL affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps. On December 8, 2015, he received his first NHL recall by the Montreal Canadiens. He made his NHL debut and recorded his first NHL point with an assist in a 3–2 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on December 10, 2015.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/det-vs-mtl/2015/12/10/2015020421 | title = Helm scores twice, Red Wings rally past Canadiens | publisher = National Hockey League | date = December 10, 2015 | access-date = December 10, 2015}} He posted another assist in his second game before he was returned to the IceCaps on December 18, 2015.

During the 2017–18 season, Hudon recorded his first two career NHL goals in an 8–3 win over the Ottawa Senators on October 30.{{cite news|last1=Hickey|first1=Pat|title=Canadiens' offence explodes in 8-3 rout of Ottawa Senators|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/canadiens-offence-explodes-in-8-3-rout-of-ottawa-senators|accessdate=December 16, 2017|publisher=Montreal Gazette|location=Ottawa|quote=Charles Hudon led the offence with his first two NHL goals}} In his first season of regular NHL action, he ultimately generated 23 primary points (10 goals and 13 primary assists) on a team that struggled for offensive consistency.{{Cite news|url=https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/analysis/2018/7/12/17561228/the-best-is-yet-to-come-for-charles-hudon-montreal-canadiens|title=The best is yet to come for Charles Hudon|work=Eyes On The Prize|access-date=July 16, 2018}}

On October 6, 2018, Hudon scored his first goal of the 2018–19 season in a 5–1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mtl-vs-pit/2018/10/06/2018020022|title=Montreal Canadiens - Pittsburgh Penguins - October 6th, 2018|website=NHL.com|language=en-US|access-date=November 1, 2018}} Hudon snapped a nine game goal drought on November 10, 2018, scoring the first goal in a 5–4 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.{{cite web |last1=Hickey |first1=Pat |title=Canadiens put on a lively show to edge flashy Vegas Golden Knights |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/canadiens-put-on-a-lively-show-to-edge-flashy-vegas-golden-knights |website=Montreal Gazette |accessdate=November 11, 2018 |date=November 11, 2018}}{{cite web |title=Canadiens' Charles Hudon: Sparks comeback Saturday |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/canadiens-charles-hudon-sparks-comeback-saturday/ |website=CBSSports.com |accessdate=November 11, 2018 |language=en}} He ultimately disappointed in his second full season with the Canadiens, registering only five points (three goals and two assists) in 32 games. Hudon rejected a qualifying contract offer, priming him for restricted free agency.{{Cite web|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/charles-hudon-turns-down-qualifying-offer-from-canadiens-report|title=Charles Hudon turns down qualifying offer from Canadiens|last=Cowan|first=Stu|date=June 18, 2019|website=Montreal Gazette|language=en|access-date=June 19, 2019}}

On July 19, 2019, Hudon signed a one-year, $900,000 contract extension with the Canadiens.{{cite web |title=Canadiens agree to terms with Charles Hudon |url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/canadiens-agree-to-terms-on-a-one-year-one-way-contract-with-charles-hudon/c-308300700 |website= Montreal Canadiens |accessdate=July 19, 2019}} He was waived by the Canadiens before the start of the season, but cleared and was reassigned to the Laval Rocket.{{Cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/canadiens-charlie-lindgren-and-charles-hudon-both-clear-nhl-waivers|title=Canadiens' Charlie Lindgren and Charles Hudon clear NHL waivers|last=Cowan|first=Stu|date=September 30, 2019|work=Montreal Gazette|access-date=October 16, 2019}} After scoring nine goals to start the season with the Rocket, Hudon was recalled by the Canadiens on November 16.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/hockey/201911/16/01-5249983-hudon-rappele-kotkaniemi-de-retour-drouin-et-byron-blesses.php|title=Hudon rappelé, Kotkaniemi de retour, Drouin et Byron blessés|last=Lefrançois|first=Guillaume|date=November 16, 2019|work=La Presse|access-date=November 16, 2019|language=fr-ca}} He was sent back to Laval on December 7 and earned a spot at the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic.{{Cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/canadiens-call-up-forward-riley-barber-from-laval-rocket|title=Canadiens call up forward Riley Barber from Laval Rocket|last=Cowan|first=Stu|date=December 8, 2019|work=Montreal Gazette|access-date=January 29, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://theahl.com/rosters-2020-ahl-all-star-classic|title=Rosters announced for 2020 AHL All-Star Classic|date=January 3, 2020|website=TheAHL.com|language=en-US|access-date=January 30, 2020|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121015105/https://theahl.com/rosters-2020-ahl-all-star-classic|url-status=dead}}

On October 12, 2020, despite his restricted free agent status with the Canadiens after he was tendered a qualifying offer it was reported that Hudon would play in Switzerland during 2020–21.{{cite news| url = https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/hockey/2020-10-12/charles-hudon-en-suisse.php | title = Charles Hudon to Switzerland? | newspaper = La Presse | publisher = lapresse.ca | date = October 12, 2020 | accessdate = October 12, 2020 | language = French | last1 = Lefrançois | first1 = Guillaume}} On October 16, Hudon agreed to a one-year contract with Lausanne HC of the NL.{{cite web| url = https://lausannehc.ch/2020/10/16/charles-hudon-au-lausanne-hockey-club/ | title = Big signing added to roster of Lausanne | publisher = Lausanne HC | date = October 16, 2020 | accessdate = October 16, 2020 | language = French}}

As a free agent from the Canadiens after 7 seasons under contract with the organization, Hudon was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 28, 2021.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/tampa-bay-lightning-sign-five-players-to-one-year-two-way-contracts/c-325836500 | title = Lightning sign five players to one-year, two-way contracts | publisher = Tampa Bay Lightning | date = July 28, 2021 | accessdate = July 28, 2021}} Following the Lightning's training camp, Hudon was assigned to join AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch for the duration of the 2021–22 season. He matched his career best mark of 57 points, collecting 30 goals and 27 assists through 66 games.

Leaving the Lightning organization at the conclusion of his contract, on July 13, 2022, Hudon was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Colorado Avalanche.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/avalanche-signs-charles-hudon-and-andreas-englund/c-334961050 | title = Avalanche signs Charles Hudon and Andreas Englund | publisher = Colorado Avalanche | date = July 13, 2022 | accessdate = July 13, 2022}}

On July 3, 2023, having left the Avalanche as a free agent, Hudon was signed to a two-year AHL contract with the Ontario Reign, the primary affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.{{cite web | url = https://theahl.com/reign-sign-hudon-to-two-year-pact | title = Reign sign Hudon to two-year pact | publisher = American Hockey League | date = July 3, 2023 | accessdate = July 3, 2023}}

Career statistics

=Regular season and playoffs=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

ALIGN="center"

| 2009–10

| Saint-Eustache Vikings

| QMAAA

| 40

| 23

| 24

| 47

| 32

| 6

| 4

| 5

| 9

| 4

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2010–11

| Chicoutimi Saguenéens

| QMJHL

| 63

| 23

| 37

| 60

| 42

| 4

| 0

| 3

| 4

ALIGN="center"

| 2011–12

| Chicoutimi Saguenéens

| QMJHL

| 59

| 25

| 41

| 66

| 50

| 18

| 6

| 5

| 11

| 16

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2012–13

| Chicoutimi Saguenéens

| QMJHL

| 56

| 30

| 41

| 71

| 66

| 6

| 5

| 10

| 8

ALIGN="center"

| 2012–13

| Hamilton Bulldogs

| AHL

| 9

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 4

| —

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2013–14

| Chicoutimi Saguenéens

| QMJHL

| 33

| 14

| 27

| 41

| 57

| —

ALIGN="center"

| 2013–14

| Baie-Comeau Drakkar

| QMJHL

| 24

| 12

| 23

| 35

| 26

| 22

| 10

| 11

| 21

| 30

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2014–15

| Hamilton Bulldogs

| AHL

| 75

| 19

| 38

| 57

| 68

| —

ALIGN="center"

| 2015–16

| St. John's IceCaps

| AHL

| 67

| 28

| 25

| 53

| 79

| —

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2015–16

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 3

| 0

| 2

| 0

| —

ALIGN="center"

| 2016–17

| St. John's IceCaps

| AHL

| 56

| 27

| 22

| 49

| 52

| 4

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 2

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2016–17

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 3

| 0

| 2

| —

ALIGN="center"

| 2017–18

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 72

| 10

| 20

| 30

| 38

| —

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2018–19

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 32

| 3

| 2

| 5

| 16

| —

ALIGN="center"

| 2019–20

| Laval Rocket

| AHL

| 46

| 27

| 8

| 35

| 51

| —

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2019–20

| Montreal Canadiens

| NHL

| 15

| 1

| 2

| 0

| 2

| 0

ALIGN="center"

| 2020–21

| Lausanne HC

| NL

| 33

| 15

| 17

| 32

| 28

| 6

| 2

| 1

| 3

| 6

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2021–22

| Syracuse Crunch

| AHL

| 66

| 30

| 27

| 57

| 56

| 5

| 0

| 1

| 2

ALIGN="center"

| 2022–23

| Colorado Eagles

| AHL

| 61

| 29

| 25

| 54

| 40

| 7

| 4

| 0

| 4

| 6

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2022–23

| Colorado Avalanche

| NHL

| 9

| 0

| 2

| —

ALIGN="center"

| 2023–24

| Ontario Reign

| AHL

| 56

| 20

| 34

| 54

| 60

| 8

| 3

| 2

| 5

| 10

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2024–25

| Ontario Reign

| AHL

| 67

| 20

| 44

| 64

| 57

| 2

| 0

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 134

! 14

! 27

! 41

! 58

! 2

! 0

=International=

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Year

! Team

! Event

! Result

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

2011

| Canada Quebec

| U17

| 4th

| 6

| 5

| 6

| 11

| 8

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2011

| Canada

| IH18

| {{gold1}}

| 5

| 4

| 9

| 0

2011

| Canada

| U18

| 4th

| 7

| 0

| 1

| 2

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 2014

| Canada

| WJC

| 4th

| 7

| 1

| 2

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="4" | Junior totals

! 25

! 11

! 12

! 23

! 12

Awards and honours

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

| colspan="3" | QMJHL

All-Rookie Team

| 2011

Michel Bergeron Trophy

| 2011

Rookie of the Year

| 2011

CHL Top Prospects Game

| 2012

ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

| colspan="3" | AHL

All-Rookie Team

| 2015

AHL All-Star Game

| 2015

AHL All-Star Game MVP

| 2015

References

External links

{{icehockeystats|tsn=charles-hudon|nhl = 8476948}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Baie-Comeau Drakkar players

Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States

Category:Canadian ice hockey left wingers

Category:Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) players

Category:Colorado Avalanche players

Category:Colorado Eagles players

Category:Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) players

Category:Ice hockey people from Saguenay, Quebec

Category:Lausanne HC players

Category:Laval Rocket players

Category:Montreal Canadiens draft picks

Category:Montreal Canadiens players

Category:Ontario Reign (AHL) players

Category:Sportspeople from Alma, Quebec

Category:St. John's IceCaps players

Category:Syracuse Crunch players

Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen