Vancouver Canucks: Adam Gaudette wins 2018 Hobey Baker Award

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 5: Adam Gaudette #8 of the Northeastern Huskies skates against the Boston College Eagles during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Huskies won 3-0 and advance to the Beanpot championship game February 12. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 5: Adam Gaudette #8 of the Northeastern Huskies skates against the Boston College Eagles during NCAA hockey in the semifinals of the annual Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden on February 5, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Huskies won 3-0 and advance to the Beanpot championship game February 12. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) /
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Vancouver Canucks forward Adam Gaudette is the first skater from Northeastern to win the Hobey Baker Award

In his junior season, Massachusetts native and Vancouver Canucks prospect Adam Gaudette captured the NCAA scoring lead. For his efforts, he has won the 2018 Hobey Baker Memorial Award. Gaudette had arguably the best season ever from a Northeastern player.

The 21-year old forward had 30 goals and 30 assists in 60 games for the Huskies this season.  Gaudette had five points more than runner-up Max Véronneau from Princeton.

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Gaudette was one of three finalists for the annual collegiate award rewarded to the nation’s best hockey player. He becomes the 37th recipient joining names like Paul Kariya, George McPhee, Johnny Gaudreau and Jack Eichel. Recent winners include Will Butcher and Jimmy Vesey. He’s the first Hobey Baker winner to sign with the team that drafted him since Eichel back in 2015.

Florida Panthers 2016 first rounder Henrik Borgstrom (Denver) and Boston Bruins 2014 second rounder Ryan Donato (Harvard) were the co-runners-up. The former should make an impact next season while the latter is already making an impact.

Two of Gaudette’s Northeastern teammates have signed their entry-level contracts as well. Chicago Blackhawks center Dylan Sikura has had a nice start with three assists in three NHL games. Meanwhile, Nolan Stevens of the St. Louis Blues inked his deal but has yet to appear in an NHL game.

Gaudette signed his three-year entry-level contract a couple of weeks ago with the Canucks and has played in four NHL games this season. He has yet to record a point, however. Vancouver has been eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs for three straight seasons. With the Sedins retiring next week, the Canucks can start implementing some more youth into their lineup.

Next: Canucks 2018 Offseason Outlook

Vancouver has some solid prospects like Gaudette, Olli Juolevi, Elias Pettersson, Thatcher Demko and Kole Lind in the pipeline. And they already have Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser. With names like that, the future seems bright in British Columbia.