A banner season for Detroit Red Wings prospect Max Plante didn’t include a trip to the NCAA Frozen Four. It could still be an historic campaign for him, though.

The Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs sophomore winger is one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, which annually recognizes the top NCAA DI men’s ice hockey player. Plante is joined in the so-called Hobey Baker hat-trick of finalists by junior defenseman Eric Pohlkamp of the Denver Pioneers and Michigan Wolverines senior forward TJ Hughes.

If Plante were to win the award, he’d be making Red Wings history. No Detroit-drafted player has ever won the Hobey Baker since the award was originally introduced in 1981. In fact, a Hobey Baker Award winner has never played for the Red Wings.

Two Hobey Baker winners – Andy Miele (2011) and Kevin Porter (2008) – did play for Detroit’s AHL farm club, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Red Wings Pick Would Be In Good Company

Minnesota-Duluth has produced more Hobey Baker winners (six) than any other school. The most recent winner from the school was Scott Perunovich in 2020.

Among the recent Hobey Baker Award winners performing in the NHL are Macklin Celebrini (2024) of the San Jose Sharks, Adam Fantilli (2023) of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cole Caufield (2021) of the Montreal Canadiens, and Cale Makar (2019) of the Colorado Avalanche.

Plante, from Hermantown, Minn., is the son of former NHL forward Derek Plante. Derek Plante was also a Hobey Baker finalist. They are the first father-son combination to achieve this feat.

Max Plante was chosen the 2025-26 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Player of the Year. He’s just the second Bulldogs player to earn that honor. The first was Perunovich during his Hobey Baker season in 2019-20.

Plante was also UMD’s first NCHC Forward of the Year. He was named an All-NCHC First Team selection. The UMD alternate captain was a member of the 2025 U.S. World Junior Team.

Plante finished the season with 52 points. That’s the most by a Bulldog since 2011-12. His 26 goals are the second most in the NCAA this season and the most by a UMD player since Mike Connolly scored 28 in 2010-11. Plante is one of just 28 players to have compiled 51 or more points in a single season in UMD program history.

Plante Finished Third In NCAA Scoring

He ranked third in the NCAA in total points (52) and game-winning goals (six), and was eighth in power play goals (eight) and points per game (1.30 ppg). In 15 games this season, Plante registered two or more points, including five games with three or more points. He registered his first career NCAA hat-trick against the University of Omaha on Nov. 14.

Plante is expected to return to UMD for his junior season and the chance to play alongside his older (Zam) and younger (Victor) brothers.

The Hobey Baker Award winner will be announced on April 10.