Aidan McDonough

January 2024 – After completing four seasons with Northeastern in the NCAA, McDonough finally made the jump to the pros at the end of last season, playing six games with Vancouver. This season, the 7th round pick in 2019 made his debut in the AHL, and it has been a challenging time offensively for him. In 32 games, he has only managed five goals and nine points, a significant disappointment for a player who was a point-per-game forward in the NCAA. However, one saving grace for him has been his defensive play. Although he isn’t generating much offense, he still boasts an impressive goals-for percentage of 56.7%, which is 5.3% higher than his team’s average. At 24, the chances of McDonough becoming a significant contributor in the NHL are becoming less likely. Cedrick Blais-Turcotte

March 2023 – McDonough, now 23-years-old, has officially signed a two-year entry-level deal with the Canucks. Given the potential for NCAA players to pick and chose, the deal comes with a sigh of relief. They can now move forward and focus on his development at arms reach. McDonough recently completed his fourth and final season with Northeastern University, where he scored 20 goals and 38 points in 34 games. Serving as captain, he played an integral role in winning this year’s Beanpot championship, scoring the only shootout goal in a 3-2 victory over Harvard. This was the second time he won the Beanpot, having contributed four points (one goal, three assists) in a double-overtime win over Boston University in 2020. In total, McDonough amassed 124 points (66 goals, 58 assists) over 124 career games with the Huskies. There is a good chance he sees immediate game action with the big club this season. However, barring a very successful stint, do not be shocked to see him bake in the AHL for parts – if not all – of the 2023-24 campaign. While his skating remains a concern, his ability to find the back of the net is an area that should have fans and fantasy owners very intrigued. Given his weapons, he continues to offer strong middle-six and powerplay potential at the NHL level. Dave Hall 

March 2022 – Falling short in his Frozen Four journey, McDonough’s sophomore season has officially come to an end. With that, the sharpshooter’s focus turned to his next big decision – to turn pro or return for his Senior year. Ultimately, the 22-year-old has elected to return to the NCAA and complete his Degree. Given his offensive upside, a top-six spot in Abbottsford was likely, as well an opportunity to improve his skating alongside a respected skating coach – an area in need of fine-tuning. Instead, he will look to dominate the goal column in his final NCAA season, after which, the Canucks will have until August. 15th, 2023 to ink a deal. Until then, expect more goals – and tons of them. Dave Hall

March 2022 – McDonough capped off a (personal) career NCAA season with a late third-period goal, leading his Northeastern Huskies to a Hockey East Championship. This was fitting, as the 22-year-old enjoyed a Junior season to remember, falling just two short to the Nation’s leader in goals. He contributed 36 points (23G + 13A) over 35 games and has officially solidified himself as one of the Canucks’ top sharpshooting prospects. Not bad for a seventh-round pick. While he has a Frozen Four tournament to focus on, there is potential for him to turn pro, joining the Abbotsford Canucks by season’s end. Dave Hall

March 2021 – Northeastern’s 2020-21 run fell short, but Aidan McDonough’s sophomore campaign was certainly one to find value in. Despite a condensed season, the 21-year-old bested his previous rookie points-per-game, finishing at a solid 0.95 clip. He notched 10 goals on the year, with six of those stemming from the man-advantage, which has undoubtedly become a staple of his game. He has blossomed into a prominent scoring threat and has found a comfortable home on his forehand half-wall. With two years of collegiate hockey under his belt, there is a possibility for him to turn pro. However, the likely scenario is for him to return to the NCAA to fulfill his Junior year. Overall, the sharpshooting, seventh-round-pick, continues to trend towards “steal” territory. Dave Hall

January 2020 – Aidan McDonough has transitioned quite smoothly to the NCAA. The 20-year-old freshman has found a home on Northeastern’s top line and top power-play unit. His effectiveness on the man-advantage has been massive as he currently co-leads the nation with eight PPGs. The 6’3 winger is third in the nation for first-year players with 18 points in 17 games. This is shaping up to be a tremendous seventh-round selection by the Canucks. Cam Robinson

June 2019 – The Vancouver Canucks selected the 19-year-old after a strong USHL campaign. The American winger is your typical late bloomer. He spent his draft-eligible campaign dominating the Massessechusettes prep circuit while finding coordination and comfort in his 6-3 frame. McDonough is a terrific finisher – capable of converting from all over the offensive end. He plays a heavy, power forward game that has become more impressive as the year went on. McDonough is travelling a well-worn path by Canucks prospects by going Prep School to the USHL and finally to Northeastern University. Next fall, McDonough will join fellow Canuck, Tyler Madden with the Huskies and look to keep the development arc trending upwards. Cam Robinson