It’s been awhile now that Gabriel Dumont has been the best skater for the Bulldogs. His 11 points in the last 10 games, including 7 goals, leads the team by a long shot. In fact half of his points this season were in the last 10 games.
Last week Dumont managed to pick up 2 goals in two games as the Bulldogs went 1-1-0-0. The marked uptick in scoring for Dumont comes in part due to increased opportunity in an offensive role after the Bulldogs suffered injuries to players like Blake Geoffrion, Aaron Palushaj, Joonas Nattinen, and others.
Dumont is still a grinder at heart, and his opportunity to make the Montreal Canadiens in training camp this week will be as a 4th line forward. You wouldn’t normally want a 5’10” sprite on your 4th line in the NHL, but Dumont plays deceptively big. He hits like a Mack truck.
In his third season with the Bulldogs at 22 after being drafted in the 5th round, 139th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry draft, Dumont is one goal and one assist away from tying his career high in the AHL, set last year, in 23 fewer games.
This increased offensive production may be just enough for him to supply enough added value to stick around in the NHL. Is Dumont going to score 20 goals? No. But he can chip in the odd one, and be a physical presence while being solid defensively.
