Utah HC could have drafted a hidden gem with their 24th overall pick

Today, the Utah Hockey Club announced the signing of their 6th overall pick, Tij Iginla.

Now that Iginla is signed, let's preview what Utah is getting with their 24th overall pick, Cole Beaudoin. 

Beaudoin plays for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League, and both he and Riley Patterson (Vancouver Canucks) helped lead the team into the first-round playoffs.

Unfortunately, they faced off against the Oshawa Generals and lost in seven games. However, Beaudoin showed why he was on so many scout lists ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.

I had the honour of watching him play a ton last season, and I think Utah may have hit on one of the hidden gems in the first round.

He is a unique hockey player; he can take faceoffs using both hands. If he faces someone in the faceoff dot who is the opposite hand, he will simply flip his stick over and take the draw.

GM Bill Armstrong spoke on Beaudoin at the 2024 NHL Draft and said: “his work ethic might change the culture of our organization.”

He skates well, however, and won't be the fastest one on the team. But because of his stance being bowlegged, it is hard to knock off the puck.

Beaudoin also has a nose for the net and very high hand-eye coordination, which gives him the ability to tip a ton of pucks on the net.

Utah is also getting a player who can play in any situation on the ice, whether it be the PP, PK, or OT. When the team is trying to tie or when they are defending a lead, Beaudoin is a coach's dream.

As far as his NHL readiness, Utah will have him at training camp, and there is a chance he could make the team out of camp. If he does, he will likely play a handful of games before being sent back to Barrie. This will allow Utah to not burn a year of his ELC while also seeing if he is ready for the next level.

Regardless of when he returns to Barrie, he would benefit from playing another year in the OHL and dominating the stat sheet while helping the Colts get back into the playoffs.

Beaudoin may not be in the NHL next season, but he will be a big part of the Utah HC's future. 

Both he and Iginla have the potential to be 2/3 of a very offensively dominant line for years to come.