It seems like it has been forever since we last heard from Jordan Dumais, and that's with good reason. He missed more than an entire calendar year of hockey, only just recently returning to make his professional debut with the Cleveland Monsters. Good news: he did not forget how to score.
Considered one of the top prospects in the system, Dumais has one of the highest ceilings of all Blue Jackets prospects. We thought highly enough to rank him fourth on our own list over the summer, even after a year that can only be described as turbulent.
After obliterating the QMJHL for 54 goals and 140 points in 64 games played in 2022-23; Jordan was returned to the Halifax Mooseheads last year due to the NHL/CHL player agreement. Officially listed as a 19 year old per the CHL, he wasn't eligible to play in the American Hockey League last season, which is probably where he should have been.
Unfortunately, his season fell apart for a couple of reasons. After a stellar first 21 games that saw him finish 6th on his team in scoring - despite playing around 40 games fewer than the rest of his teammates - Dumais was named to team Canada for the World Junior Championships. He scored just one goal and 2 points in 5 games, and it's obvious in hindsight that he wasn't himself.
After the tournament, Dumais missed time and wound up having abdominal surgery that turned into a much bigger issue than expected. That, combined with a DUI arrest in March, spelled the end of his junior career.
His health issues carried over into the fall, where he missed training camp and the first half of this season. Finally getting back to health just before the New Year, the organization gave him plenty of time to get up to speed before debuting him in Cleveland on January 31st.
He's adjusted to the quicker pace of the AHL very quickly, especially considering all of the missed development time. In 5 games, Dumais already has 1 goal and 4 points. He looks right at home in Cleveland.
The guy just knows how to generate offense.
I have a feeling that we'll look back some day and wonder how Dumais fell all the way to pick #96 in the draft. At every level he's played, he's put up gaudy offensive numbers; including 325 points in just 193 career games in the QMJHL, one of the top feeder leagues in the world. That total sets the all-time mark for Halifax Mooseheads skaters by 22 points - and he did it in 150 fewer games played than the guy sitting in second place.
Dumais is a cerebral attacker, whose vision allows him to see plays well before they develop. He has the awareness to arrive exactly where he needs to be, on time; and then the skill to either dish off a pass for an easy finish, or shoot and score himself.
He's not the flashiest guy on the ice. He doesn't really have the footspeed you would expect out of a smaller skill guy. Instead, he simply sits off in the weeds and then strikes quickly and effectively, just when the opposition has forgotten about him. Every time the puck arrives on his stick, you have to expect something special to happen.
How far off is he?
The Jackets can be patient here, as Dumais has only just kickstarted his professional career. He can play this season in the AHL, and maybe even spend a full year in Cleveland next year; without any concern of losing him. But, I have a feeling that he'll be pushing for a roster spot soon, rather than later.
If his offense translate as it looks to be early on, it's going to be very difficult to keep him off of the NHL roster. He'll have to round a few areas of his game out and mature, which is why more time in the AHL is probably better. But, guys that can score like this are rare commodities. At some point, we'll get to see him showcase himself in Columbus.