Charles Hudon

Charles Simard-Hudon (born June 23, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a left winger for Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). 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 Junior Hudon played his amateur midget hockey with the Saint-Eustache Vikings of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QMAAA). He was then drafted to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. Following two prolific seasons in the QMJHL, Hudon was selected in the 2012 NHL entry draft (122nd overall) by the Montreal Canadiens.

On May 5, 2013, Hudon was signed to a three-year entry-level contract by the Canadiens organization. During his final major junior season in 2013–14, he led the offense for the Saguenéens with 41 points in 33 games before being traded to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Helping the Drakkar reach the President Cup Finals, Hudon co-lead the team in goals (10) and finishing third in points (21).

Professional In his first full professional season in 2014–15, Hudon was assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs, American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Canadiens, where he quickly assumed a top-line scoring role and recorded a spectacular rookie campaign with 57 points in 75 games. Finishing second amongst team and rookie scoring league-wide, he was honoured as part of the AHL All-Rookie Team. Hudon was also selected to the annual AHL All-Star Game, posting a hat-trick and an assist to earn co-MVP honors.

In the following 2015–16 season, Hudon was initially reassigned to the Canadiens' newfound 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 two days later and recorded his first NHL point with an assist in a 3–2 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on December 10. He posted another assist in his second game before he was returned to the AHL ranks on December 18.

Agreeing to a two-year extension prior to the 2017–18 season, Hudon recorded his first two career NHL goals in an 8–3 win over the Ottawa Senators on October 30. In his first season of regular NHL action, he generated 30 points (10 goals and 20 assists) on a team that struggled for offensive consistency.

On October 6, 2018, Hudon scored his first goal of the 2018–19 season in a 5–1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Thereafter, he snapped a nine game goal drought on November 10, scoring the first goal in a 5–4 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. He ultimately disappointed over the course of his sophomore season with the Canadiens, registering only five points (three goals and two assists) in 32 games. Entering the offseason, Hudon rejected a qualifying offer made by the Canadiens, priming him for restricted free agency.

On July 19, 2019, Hudon signed a one-year, $900,000 contract extension with the Canadiens. He was waived by Montreal before the start of the season, but cleared and was reassigned to the Laval Rocket. After scoring nine goals to start the season with the Rocket, Hudon was recalled by the Canadiens on November 16. He was sent back to Laval on December 7 and earned a spot at the 2020 AHL All-Star Classic.

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. Five days later, he agreed to a one-year contract with Lausanne HC of the National League (NL).

As an unrestricted free agent from the Canadiens after seven 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. Following attendance at the Lightning's training camp, he was assigned to join AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, for the duration of the 2021–22 season. Hudon subsequently matched his career best mark of 57 points, collecting 30 goals and 27 assists through 66 games played.

Leaving the Lightning organization at the conclusion of his contract, Hudon was signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Colorado Avalanche on 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.

After two point-per-game seasons with the Ontario Reign, Hudon left the club as a free agent and returned abroad in agreeing to a two-year contract with Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) on July 23, 2025.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2009–10 Saint-Eustache Vikings QMAAA 40 23 24 47 32 6 4 5 9 4 2010–11 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 63 23 37 60 42 4 0 3 3 4 2011–12 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 59 25 41 66 50 18 6 5 11 16 2012–13 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 56 30 41 71 66 6 5 5 10 8 2012–13 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 9 1 2 3 4 — — — — — 2013–14 Chicoutimi Saguenéens QMJHL 33 14 27 41 57 — — — — — 2013–14 Baie-Comeau Drakkar QMJHL 24 12 23 35 26 22 10 11 21 30 2014–15 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 75 19 38 57 68 — — — — — 2015–16 St. John's IceCaps AHL 67 28 25 53 79 — — — — — 2015–16 Montreal Canadiens NHL 3 0 2 2 0 — — — — — 2016–17 St. John's IceCaps AHL 56 27 22 49 52 4 1 3 4 2 2016–17 Montreal Canadiens NHL 3 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 2017–18 Montreal Canadiens NHL 72 10 20 30 38 — — — — — 2018–19 Montreal Canadiens NHL 32 3 2 5 16 — — — — — 2019–20 Laval Rocket AHL 46 27 8 35 51 — — — — — 2019–20 Montreal Canadiens NHL 15 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 2020–21 Lausanne HC NL 33 15 17 32 28 6 2 1 3 6 2021–22 Syracuse Crunch AHL 66 30 27 57 56 5 0 1 1 2 2022–23 Colorado Eagles AHL 61 29 25 54 40 7 4 0 4 6 2022–23 Colorado Avalanche NHL 9 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2023–24 Ontario Reign AHL 56 20 34 54 60 8 3 2 5 10 2024–25 Ontario Reign AHL 67 20 44 64 57 2 0 0 0 0 2025–26 Djurgårdens IF SHL 40 15 16 31 18 3 0 0 0 0 NHL totals 134 14 27 41 58 2 0 0 0 0

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2011 Canada Quebec U17 4th 6 5 6 11 8 2011 Canada U18 4th 7 0 1 1 2 2011 Canada IH18 5 5 4 9 0 2014 Canada WJC 4th 7 1 1 2 2 2024 Canada SC 3rd 3 2 2 4 0 Junior totals 25 11 12 23 12 Senior totals 3 2 2 4 0

Awards and honours Award Year Ref QMJHL All-Rookie Team 2011 Michel Bergeron Trophy 2011 RDS Cup 2011 CHL CHL Canada/Russia Series 2011, 2012, 2013 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game 2012 International Canada–Russia Challenge 2012 AHL All-Rookie Team 2015 All-Star Game MVP 2015