College hockey star Jack Dugan en route to town after signing entry-level contract

By Justin Emerson

Friday, July 17, 2020 | 2 a.m.

Jack Dugan will be a Knight next season. The only question left is whether he will be a Golden Knight or Silver Knight.

The former fifth-round draft choice and Providence College star signed his entry-level contract with Vegas on Thursday, two months after agreeing to terms to join the organization. He was the franchise's top prospect not signed to a contract, and if he doesn’t make the NHL roster next fall, he’ll be up the road in the AHL with the Henderson Silver Knights.

In that case, Dugan could be a main draw for the recently relocated minor-league franchise, which will play at Orleans Arena for the next two seasons while their permanent venue on the site of the former Henderson Pavilion is under construction.

“Any player in my position, anyone who’s played hockey growing up has dreamed of playing in the NHL,” Dugan said. “It might be a little cliché, but it really is a dream come true. I couldn’t be happier.”

The hold-up on announcing his contract, general manager Kelly McCrimmon said, came from waiting for an NHL ruling on whether Dugan or any player signed during the season’s pause would be eligible for this year’s postseason. Once it was ruled he could not play, the sides agreed to start his contract next season.

If the league ruling was different, there’s a chance the 22-year-old Dugan could have competed for playing time in the playoffs. It’s common to see college players sign a contract at the end of a season and get some playing time — both Jimmy Schuldt and Zach Whitecloud have done so for the Golden Knights the last two years.

“Going into this year I knew that it would have been a possibility at the end of the year,” Dugan said. “I’m not going to say I wasn’t looking forward to it because I was, but that’s out of my control and there’s really nothing I can do about that.

“I was waiting to see what was going to happen and obviously the NHL ruled against it, which is why today I came out and signed. I was following it, but I wasn’t really worried about it either way. I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to be with Vegas.”

Dugan is far from guaranteed a roster spot next year, but he could challenge for one — especially considering his resume. He was unstoppable at Providence, capping off his career by becoming one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, college hockey’s equivalent to the Heisman Trophy.

Dugan led the NCAA with 42 assists and 52 points in 34 games last season.

“We have considered him a great prospect right from the time that we drafted him,” McCrimmon said. “This gives him an opportunity to turn pro in our organization.”

Dugan’s contract runs for two years, meaning he will be a restricted free agent after the 2021-22 season. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but by rule, entry-level contracts cannot exceed $925,000 in annual salary so Dugan will be affordable for the next two years.

That’s important for Vegas, which will be tight against the cap after the league and players’ association announced it would remain flat at $81.5 million next season. The Golden Knights, like many other teams, will need to rely on inexpensive, entry-level contracts to fill the roster.

“We’re going to be at the cap. That’s by design,” McCrimmon said. “It’s perishable inventory, so if you don’t utilize those dollars on your payroll and make your team the best it can be, to me, you’re not doing your jobs well. It’ll be a dance. It’ll be a fine line.”

Dugan has spent time in Las Vegas over the last couple years, as he’s taken part in the Golden Knights’ rookie development camps and played in January at T-Mobile Arena as part of the Fortress Invitational with Providence.

He said he knew enough about the valley to be excited about moving here, regardless of whether he’s playing with the Golden Knights or Silver Knights.

“It’s really nothing like you see in the movies,” Dugan said. “In the movies it’s all kind of glitz and glam but there’s a lot more that goes into the city. I truly do love it and I can’t wait to get out there.”