The debate over who will win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given annually to college hockey’s top player, is always intriguing.
Four out of the last five winners have come from teams in Massachusetts, including last year when Cale Makar of the Minutemen took home top billing. Boston University’s Jack Eichel (2015), Harvard’s Jimmy Vesey (2016) and Northeastern’s Adam Gaudette (2018) were the other recent winners from local colleges.
The 2020 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner will likely come from a school outside of Massachusetts, but it is possible New England will be represented in the Hat Trick Finalists. Keeping in mind that there is still plenty of hockey to be played, the winner and the hat trick finalists are no-brainers to me, if it was decided today.
Here are the 10 players I believe are most deserving of being a Hobey Baker Memorial Award finalist, listed in order of merit:
Hobey Baker Memorial Award: Top 10 candidates
Scott Perunovich
Minnesota Duluth, jr., defenseman
Perunovich, hailing from Hibbing, Minn., has been one of the best players in college hockey for a few years now. A two-time national champion, Perunovich is second in the country in points per game by a defenseman. He has four goals and 29 assists in 28 games. Perunovich, a St. Louis Blues prospect, is the straw that stirs the drink for the Bulldogs. I’ve seen him several times in person during the last two NCAA Tournaments as well as a couple of regular season games, including this December at Merrimack. His ability to control the tempo of a game is undeniable. As it stands right now, Perunovich is the clearcut top choice to be the 2020 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner.
Jeremy Swayman
Maine, jr., goaltender
Swayman’s .935 save percentage ranks fifth nationally, but the team in front of him is certainly far inferior to those of the four goaltenders ranked above him. The Anchorage, Alaska, native and Boston Bruins prospect is the indisputable MVP of the Black Bears, who are in a position to make the playoffs in Hockey East. That certainly looked like a tall order for anyone who saw Maine get thumped by Providence and New Brunswick in the opening weekend back in October.
Tyler Madden
Northeastern, so., center
Madden, from Deerfield Beach, Fla., has missed the last two Northeastern games. If his injury is as severe as initially thought, his standing in the Hobey race might fall. Madden has 19 goals and and 18 assists for 37 points and his 1.37 points per game ranks fifth nationally. The 2019-20 version of the Huskies doesn’t have a lot of firepower and Madden has been instrumental in the team’s success offensively. He’s also had a propensity to come up big in the game’s brightest stage. Madden recently had his NHL rights traded from the Vancouver Canucks to the Los Angeles Kings.
Jordan Kawaguchi
North Dakota, jr., right wing
Kawaguchi’s15 goals and 29 assists for 44 points puts him second nationally in points per game. The Abbotsford, British Columbia, native has been the offensive catalyst for a North Dakota team that has rebounded in a major way from two down seasons. He plays in the toughest conference in the country and will get plenty of the credit.
Jack Dugan
Providence, so., right wing
Dugan has been the wire-to-wire leader in the national scoring race. The Rochester, N.Y., native and Vegas Golden Knights draft pick currently has nine goals and 40 assists in 30 games played for the Friars. Providence hasn’t had the year that was expected, but Dugan’s hot start and ability to maintain the lead as college hockey’s top point getter deserves accolades.
Connor Mackey
Minnesota State, jr., defenseman
Mackey has the best plus/minus on the Mavericks, one of the top teams in college hockey. He’s considered one of the top undrafted NHL free agent prospects and will almost assuredly turn pro following the season. Minnesota State is a deep team and there are a few players to choose from, but Mackey gets my vote.
Jack Drury
Harvard, so., center
Drury, a Carolina Hurricanes draft pick, is as good of a 200-foot player as anyone in the country. He wins face-offs, blocks shots, plays in all situations, and he can also score. The Winnetka, Ill., native ranks third nationally in points per game with 1.41. Drury has 16 goals and 15 assists in his second season wearing Crimson.
Morgan Barron
Cornell, jr., left wing
Barron has 13 goals and 17 assists to lead the Big Red in scoring. The New York Rangers prospect is a big power forward who projects to have a solid pro career. Cornell is a deep, talented and well-coached team, but Barron deserves a ton of credit for being a leader in Ithaca.
Mike Lee
Sacred Heart, sr., defenseman
Atlantic Hockey usually gets one top 10 finalist and Lee is the most deserving player from the conference that continues to get better and better. The Hamden, Conn., native has four goals and 28 assists for 32 points. His 1.07 points per game ranks third in the country among defensemen. The Pioneers are enjoying their best season in a decade and the Vermont transfer is a major reason why.
Strauss Mann
Michigan, so., goaltender
The Greenwich, Conn., native has led Michigan’s second half surge. The Wolverines have won four in a row and are 8-1-1 in their last 10. A major reason has been Mann’s stellar play between the pipes. Mann has a .935 save percentage in front of a fairly young team. Over the team’s 12-3-2 stretch, Mann has a .942 save percentage.
