NCAA’s leading scorer Jack Dugan agrees to terms with Golden Knights

Providence forward Jack Dugan, who led the NCAA in scoring, agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with the Golden Knights on Monday.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue to play a key role in the development of Jack Dugan as both a hockey player and as a young man within our organization,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “Jack took significant steps in his growth over the past two seasons as one of the best all-around players in college hockey and has proven that he is ready for the next challenge in his young career.”

Dugan agreed to terms on multiple two-year, entry-level contracts based on whether the NHL resumes playing and other factors, according to his agent, Brian Bartlett.

The NHL has prohibited teams from signing players to contracts for the 2019-20 season since it paused March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

If the league reverses that policy, Dugan could sign and play a game in the NHL to burn the first year of his contract. Otherwise, it would kick in at the start of the 2020-21 season and he would become a restricted free agent in 2022.

Dugan, 22, was a fifth-round pick by the Knights in 2017 after being bypassed in the draft the previous season.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 194-pound wing had 52 points in 34 games as a sophomore at Providence before the remainder of the Friars’ season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“He’s got some things that you can’t teach, some things he does naturally,” Knights director of player development Wil Nichol said. “I’m happy to hear that Jack (said) he has to continue to work on his 200-foot game. … The more they’re a 200-foot player and a complete player, they’re going to have the puck more, and that’s what we want. We want guys like Jack to have the puck.”

Dugan was named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the top player in college hockey.

He led the nation in points per game (1.53), assists (42), assists per game (1.24), power-play points (22) and even-strength points (30) on the way to being named first-team All-Hockey East Association.

In 75 career games at Providence, Dugan produced 20 goals and 71 assists for 91 points.

“He’s big, strong. He’s got a really good stick and really good vision,” Providence coach Nate Leaman said in January. “The challenge for Jack is to keep earning offense and to keep working for his offense, and not to fall back and wait for the offense to come to him or wait for a puck.”

Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.