Prospect Watch: Jordan Dumais is Obliterating the QMJHL

With early indications on the returns from the 2022 NHL Draft being very positive, the future of the Blue Jackets continues to bring a glimmer of hope. Look no further than Halifax Mooseheads forward Jordan Dumais, who is this week’s QMJHL player of the week.

Dumais was the fourth player taken by the Blue Jackets at the draft, selected in the third round (#96 overall) this summer. As far as draft eligible players, nobody else in the entire CHL out-paced his 109-pt effort with Halifax last season. GM Jarmo Kekalainen and his scouting staff were hopeful they could draft Dumais, and got their wish as he was somehow still available in the third round.

At just 5-9 and 165 pounds, his size is probably the reason he fell so far in the draft. But teams are quickly finding out that his skillset is certainly first-round worthy, and he seems to be on a mission to prove everyone wrong. He’s scored at least one point in all 9 of his games with Halifax this fall. After a 5 point effort on Sunday (including 4 goals), he sits with 9 goals and 22 points on the season.

His point totals find him second in the ‘Q in scoring – but with three fewer games played than the league’s leading scorer, Sherbrooke center Justin Gill. Dumais sits tied for the league lead with 13 assists, and his 2.44 points per game are the most in the league. If he keeps up his current pace, he’ll finish the season with 68 goals and 166 points. He’s been that hot to start the year.

Typically in the CHL, you only see these kind of dominant numbers in top prospects or overage players. Dumais is certainly not an overage player preying on younger, less-developed kids. But it’s time to start talking about him as a top prospect.

While his size will always be questioned, his skill is something that cannot be debated. He has terrific hockey sense, excellent hands, and is both a strong playmaker and goal scorer. People question his speed, but I think that’s more of a knock on him being a smaller player, who isn’t visibly blazing up and down the ice (think Cam Atkinson). His skating is fine, and he more than makes up for any perceived lack of speed by using his hockey sense and timing.

There are certain things you can teach, and certain things that some players just have. Dumais has qualities that cannot be taught. The puck seems to follow him on the ice, and he knows what to do with it before it gets to his stick.

Now, prospects are prospects until they prove they’re NHL players. So for the time being we can’t call Dumais a sure thing. He still needs development, and will have to learn a lot along the way. But make no mistake about it – this guy is quickly becoming one of the top prospects in the CBJ system.

He’ll continue to dominate the ‘Q this season, assuming he stays healthy. It will be interesting to see if he hits team Canada’s radar for the upcoming World Junior Championships. More interesting will be his development after this season. While it’s hard to see him in Columbus next fall, he’s clearly proving that he’s better than the competition in the QMJHL … and he won’t be eligible to play in the AHL as a CHL drafted player.

Finding a way to keep him productive, but facing tougher competition and rounding out the finer areas of his game, is key. At this point, it’s refreshing to see the team find a player like this in the middle rounds of the draft.