Columbus Blue Jackets land college center Hunter McKown, a coveted 'late bloomer'
The Blue Jackets made another splash in free agency Monday.
Signing Colorado College center Hunter McKown wasn’t nearly as stunning as signing star forward Johnny Gaudreau last summer, but it did create waves. McKown, 20, agreed to a three-year entry-level contract and will join the Blue Jackets’ immediately to finish the season.
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“He is a big, skilled center who is a powerful skater and possesses an elite shot, and we believe he has a chance to be a very productive player as he continues to develop,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a release. “He was a highly sought after college free agent and we are thrilled to have him join our club and embark on his professional career with the Blue Jackets.”
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McKown, who's 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, was a free agent after not being selected in three NHL drafts (2020-22). He improved each season playing center for Colorado College, culminating in a breakout campaign as a junior this year. McKown tied for seventh in the NCAA in goals with 21 and led the nation with 14 power-play goals. He finished with 21-7-28 in 38 games and left college with a career scoring line of 36-19-55 in 96 games.
Oh my! 🤯
McKown with the #NCHCTopPlay to tie it for @CCTigerHKY
🎥: @ATTSportsNetRM // https://t.co/ZyUdpPaF0J #NCHChockey // #CCTigers pic.twitter.com/JRm19HvG4N— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) December 10, 2022
According to FloHockey's Chris Peters, McKown was one of the top available collegiate free agents.
"He's been on a rapid ascent over the last two years, looking more like the classic late bloomer that finds their way onto an NHL roster after not garnering much NHL interest when they were draft eligible," Peters wrote. "At just 20 years old, he's just past draft eligibility. Most college UFAs come in at 22-24. So, the Blue Jackets signed a player that is ascending in his development and still has plenty of time to reach the elevated ceiling he's shown over the last two years."
The Athletic's Corey Pronman issued a less glowing assessment. He lists McKown ninth among available college free agents and placed him in a "Have a chance to play NHL Games" sub-category.
"McKown has scored a lot of goals in college over the last two seasons," Pronman wrote. "He’s a highly-skilled forward, he actually was on the power play for Team USA at the summer world juniors because of the offensive touch he brings. His skating is fine, but won’t be an asset in the NHL. McKown’s overall 'compete' can be inconsistent, too, and he’s probably not a pro center. The skill and scoring touch will be worth a team taking a gamble on."
McKown, who wasn’t drafted, is also a product of the United States National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Michigan. He had 5-15-20 in 82 games over two seasons for the USNTDP and 3-6-9 in 43 games (two years) for the program’s United States Hockey League junior team.
Not much of a goal-scorer entering college, McKown honed his finishing skill with the Tigers. After netting just two two goals in 23 games as a freshman, he upped that total to 13 goals in 35 games as a sophomore and 21 this season. McKown also played for the U.S. at last summer’s 2022 world junior championship, adding one assist in four games.
McKown, who wore an alternate captain’s ‘A’ this season, will join the Blue Jackets this week. After concluding a five-game road trip Tuesday in Washington, the Jackets host the New York Islanders on Friday and conclude a back-to-back Saturday in Montreal.
Joining the Blue Jackets immediately burns the first year of McKown’s contract, which is a common enticement for NHL teams looking to stand out while vying for collegiate free agents. Previous collegiate players who’ve done the same in Columbus include forward Josh Dunne (Clarkson) in 2021 and left wing Eric Robinson (Princeton) in 2018.
Each made their NHL debut the same season they signed.
The Blue Jackets also signed forward Cameron Butler last week as an undrafted free agent from the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. Butler, 20, agreed to a three-year ELC that starts next season and is expected to sign an amateur tryout offer with the AHL's Cleveland Monsters if Oshawa doesn't make the OHL playoffs.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets sign college free agent Hunter McKown
