I've been pretty high on Hvidston for more than a year. After this season, he absolutely needs to be given full-time pro hockey minutes. He doesn't really have much left to prove in juniors, and it becomes clear right now looking at his stats line on a subpar Swift Current team that will be going nowhere.
I think a realistic scenario for him will be juniors until the end of their season, then back to the AHL and staying there for all of 2024-25 with a few games up with the big club and ultimately a full-time spot in our bottom-six from 2025-26 on. I view him as a great defensive player with quite some untapped offensive potential, who could very well be a new version of our favorite Swedish meatball, Samuel Pahlsson.
Hvidston does have much to prove. He's gotta show that last year's production wasn't a fluke. He's also gotta show improvement in his game such as incrementally improving his defense and EV scoring. In just three games, his PP production looks like it's definitely improved to show he's a finisher.
Being a Sept baby, Hvidston can put on more bulk for this season to prepare for his pro career in the near future.
Broncos' leading scorer from last year and Devils' draftee, Josh Filmon was recently returned to Swift Current. Filmon has played two games with the Broncos, earning 0g + 3a in his return. Two more NHL prospects have not yet been returned in D Owen Pickering (Pens) and G Reid Dyck (Bruins), as both don't turn 20 years old until January 2024. Pickering is injured and may stay longer with the Pens, medical staff is probably better, and then returned when healed. I'd like the NHL prospects to help lead the Broncos to the playoffs.
Swift Current barely missed the playoffs and I wondered if Hvidston wasn't injured, then would the Broncos have made the playoffs? Can Hvidston be a leader for his subpar team to will them into the playoffs this season? Before Hvidston joined the team, the Broncos were 0-2 with a -5 goal differential. Since, the Broncos are now 2-1 with a +4 goal differential.
If Swift Current makes the playoffs and Hvidston is on the team, then Hvidston probably won't see the AHL this year.