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Vegas Golden Knights: Dugan getting plenty of national love

By Andrew Steele-Davis

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 29: Vegas Golden Knights Jack Dugan (51) participates in a scrimmage game at the Vegas Golden Knights Development Camp Saturday, June 29, 2019, at City National Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 29: Vegas Golden Knights Jack Dugan (51) participates in a scrimmage game at the Vegas Golden Knights Development Camp Saturday, June 29, 2019, at City National Arena in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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It has been quite the year for Jack Dugan and the Vegas Golden Knights prospect is starting to attract a lot of attention from the wider hockey world.

The 142nd overall pick by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Dugan is showing signs that maybe he should have been taken a lot higher than the fifth round.

After standing out for the Knights during Development Camp back in the summer, Dugan has followed that up with a strong and impressive sophomore season for Providence College.

Through 23 games, Dugan has potted seven goals and tallied 34 assists for 41 points to go along with a plus/minus rating of +17.

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Dugan leads the entire NCAA in assists (34) and points (41), while he also leads the NCAA in Points Per Game with 1.78.

Such an impressive year with eye-catching stats has ensured that Dugan is a favorite for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s ice hockey player.

Dugan’s numbers this year are similar to those of Jimmy Vesey and Jack Eichel when they won the Hobey Baker Award in 2016 and 2015 respectively.

And, a highlight of the year for Dugan would no doubt have come just after Christmas when the prospect lit up the Invitational Tournament at T-Mobile Arena, a place the forward will hope to enjoy more success throughout his career.

But, getting back to the moment, Dugan was without doubt the star of the show and was named MVP of the tournament after scoring the winning goal in the shootout to hand Providence the title.

It gave Vegas fans a tantalizing glimpse of what they hope will be a bona fide NHL star one day, and Dugan is certainly trending in that direction.

After all, there is such a thing as unearthing a gem in the later rounds of the draft and the Golden Knights will hope that they have a diamond in Dugan.

LOWELL, MA – DECEMBER 7: Jack Dugan #12 of the Providence College Friars celebrates his goal that was eventually disallowed after a video review against the Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks during NCAA men’s hockey at the Tsongas Center on December 7, 2019 in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Friars won 4-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
LOWELL, MA – DECEMBER 7: Jack Dugan #12 of the Providence College Friars celebrates his goal that was eventually disallowed after a video review against the Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks during NCAA men’s hockey at the Tsongas Center on December 7, 2019 in Lowell, Massachusetts. The Friars won 4-1. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /

And the national hockey media seems to be thinking along those same lines as well, given that The Hockey News had Dugan top of the list in their “11 Under-The-Radar NHL Prospects who are lightning up the NCAA” this year.

It is deserved given that the year Dugan is having can be compared to Johnny Gaudreau, who carved out a year for the making in the NCAA in 2013-14 with 80 points, including 42 points in 22 games.

Vegas fans should be excited about Dugan too given that he currently stands at 6’2″ and 185 lbs, making him a power forward with room still to grow and develop.

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Furthermore, Dugan also boasts silky hands and a high hockey IQ, all the hallmarks of a high-end prospect that has the intangibles to really make a career for himself in the NHL.

It will be fascinating to see how he continues to develop with Providence College, and winning the Hobey Baker Award would really grab the attention of the wider hockey world.

Overall, although not a high draft pick, Jack Dugan is rapidly morphing into an elite prospect for the Vegas Golden Knights and he could be the future of this team at center along with Cody Glass.

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