Dryden Hunt

Dryden Hunt (born 24 November 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left wing for theToronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Junior

Hunt played amateur junior hockey firstly with the Notre Dame Argos in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League before moving back to his native British Columbia with the Kootenay Ice of the BC Hockey Major Midget League.

Hunt opted to pursue a major junior career in the Western Hockey League with the Regina Pats. During his fourth season with the club in 2014–15, Hunt was leading the Pats with 47 points in 37 games before he was traded to the Medicine Hat Tigers on 5 January 2015. He played out the season in contributing 36 points in 34 games.

Undrafted, Hunt opted to play his overage year in the WHL, and was acquired by the Moose Jaw Warriors before the 2015–16 season on 23 September 2015. Hunt continued to improve offensively, leading the Warriors and the League with 58 goals in 72 games. As an alternate captain he completed the regular season with 116 points before suffering a second round exit with 16 points in 10 post-season games. He was selected as the League's Player of the Year and earned a place on the East First All-Star Team.

In the closing stages of his final major junior season, Hunt was signed as a free agent to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers on 2 March 2016.

Professional

In the following 2017–18 season, Hunt was assigned to continue with the Thunderbirds. After 13 games on 9 November 2017, he received his first recall to the Panthers. He made his NHL debut with the Panthers in a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on 10 November 2017.

After his fourth season within the Panthers organization, Hunt as an impending restricted free agent was not tendered a qualifying offer by Florida, releasing him as a free agent. On 10 October 2020, Hunt was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes. In the pandemic shortened 2020–21 season, Hunt remained on the Coyotes taxi squad and after his elevation in the roster and initially serving as a healthy scratch he made his debut for the Coyotes in a 4-3 defeat to the St. Louis Blues on February 2, 2021. Adding a physical presence when inserted into the lineup, Hunt posted 3 goals and 8 points through 26 games as the Coyotes missed the post-season.

On 28 July 2021, Hunt signed as a free agent to a two-year deal with the New York Rangers. In the 2021–22 season, Hunt made his Rangers debut on season opening night, featuring on the fourth line in a 5-1 defeat to the Washington Capitals on October 13, 2021. He made his 100th NHL appearance on November 5, 2021, in a 6-5 overtime defeat to the Edmonton Oilers before registering his first goal with the Rangers in a 2-1 defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 18, 2021. While one of the Rangers leaders in hits, Hunt was elevated in the line-up through the season and recorded a career-high three assists on March 12, 2021, in a 7-4 victory over the Dallas Stars. He finished the regular season finishing with career highs of 76 games for 6 goals, 11 assists and 17 points. He went scoreless in 3 playoff appearances as the Rangers reached the Eastern Conference finals.

In his final season under contract with the Rangers, Hunt began the 2022–23 season by scoring 1 goal in 3 games before he was placed on waivers on October 19, 2022. He was claimed the following day by defending champions, the Colorado Avalanche, on October 20, 2022. He made his debut on the fourth-line with the Avalanche in a 3-2 defeat to the Seattle Kraken on October 21, 2022. He registered his first point and goal with the Avalanche, in his 15th appearance, helping Colorado to a 4-1 win over Dallas Stars on November 26, 2022.