Has Adam Gaudette Finally Found a Home in Ottawa?

Adam Gaudette’s career has been anything but smooth. From a promising start with the Vancouver Canucks to bouncing between the NHL and AHL over the last few seasons, the 28-year-old forward has faced his share of ups and downs. But now, with the Ottawa Senators, there’s a glimmer of hope that Gaudette may have finally found stability in a tumultuous professional journey.

Gaudette’s NHL Struggles Eroded His Great Expectations

Gaudette’s NHL career began with high expectations. Drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2015, he showed flashes of brilliance, including a 33-point season in 2019-20. However, consistency eluded him, and injuries and underperformance led to trades and stints in the AHL.

Over the past few years, Gaudette has struggled to find a permanent role. He played for Chicago, Ottawa (briefly), and the Toronto Marlies (the Toronto Maple Leafs AHL affiliate) before rejoining the Senators this season. And all those seasons, but that has been up and down. He’s never found a place where he’s thrived and prospered. However, there’s always been the hope that he would bust out someplace.

Gaudette’s Resurgence in Ottawa

This season, Gaudette has been a revelation for Ottawa. After he passed through waivers, he was called up from AHL Belleville in mid-October and quickly made an impact. In his first 20 games, he scored nine goals and one assist while posting an impressive 32.1% shooting percentage. His highlights included six goals in five games and key power-play contributions.

What stands out most is Gaudette’s ability to maximize limited opportunities. Despite averaging just over 10 minutes of ice time per game, he’s proven to be an efficient scorer. His recent surge even earned him a brief stint on Ottawa’s top line. Suddenly, the Senators’ coaching staff is growing to trust him. That guy that can score has never been a problem. However, his consistent scoring and reliability have been the issue. Could this be the season where that is put to bed?

Is Ottawa the Right Fit for Gaudette?

For a player like Gaudette, the Senators provide a unique opportunity. The team has been searching for depth scoring, and Gaudette’s ability to chip in from the bottom six or on the second power-play unit fills a critical need. His versatility and recent productivity suggest he could carve out a consistent role if he maintains his current form.