‘Stock has definitely risen' on potential Rangers free-agent target Adam Gaudette
The Rangers likely are looking to upgrade their bottom six and Gaudette is one of the more intriguing options out there on the open market this summer. Not only is the 28-year-old coming off a breakthrough 19-goal season with the Ottawa Senators, but his price tag should still be reasonable.
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All of that is appealing to the Rangers, who could use more depth scoring at an affordable price.
'I think the stock has definitely risen,' Gaudette said after the Senators were eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Toronto Maple Leafs. 'That was a personal goal of mine, proving that I am an everyday NHL player and finally getting over that hump of, is he an AHL player or NHL player? I had personal goals when I signed here and pretty much nailed every one.'
Gaudette signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Senators last summer after the forward played just two games with the St. Louis Blues in 2023-24. He had 26 points playing in an NHL career-high 81 games, averaging 10:25 TOI. His 19 goals were sixth on the Senators; and in the playoffs, Gaudette was tied for fifth in scoring for Ottawa with three points (one goal, two assists) in six games.
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'I've always had the mindset that I can be an impactful player in this league, just needed the chance to prove it,' Gaudette explained. 'I think this is just the beginning and I have a lot more to give.'
Gaudette has played 301 NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks, Blues and Senators. And he did notch 33 points in 50 games with the Canucks during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 campaign. But he struggled with consistency, lack of production, and finding a set role in the NHL until this season.
Now he understands better who he is and where he fits.
'Good playoff teams need a good bottom six to support them through the playoffs,' he said. 'I accepted my fourth-line center role and ran with it.'
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If the Rangers move Mika Zibanejad to right wing on a line with J.T. Miller, that would open up a spot on their third line at center. There are in-house candidates like Juuso Parssinen and Jonny Brodzinski, and maybe even Noah Laba, who turned pro at the end of his NCAA career with Colorado College. But it's easy to see why the Rangers could consider Gaudette, as well.
Related: Why it's time for Rangers to trade Chris Kreider this offseason
Why Rangers should proceed with caution when it comes to free agent Adam Gaudette
Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
There are a slew of red flags with Gaudette that the Rangers must be aware of, though.
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First and foremost, as mentioned above, it was thought that he already had his breakout season in 2019-20. Gaudette followed that up with 10 goals and 25 points the next four seasons in the NHL, yo-yoing between the bigs and the minors. That's a major warning sign that perhaps Gaudette played well above grade this season.
Of course, it could be that a more mature Gaudette simply found himself and his game in 2024-25. But let's face it, his track record isn't great. So, general manager Chris Drury really would need to rely on his scouts here, those who've seen Gaudette on a regular basis, not only this season but in previous ones.
Gaudette had an unsustainable shooting percentage of 21.1 percent this season. He only recorded 90 shots on goal, despite playing all but one game. Those are important stats. Gaudette also scored 13 of his goals before the New Year, and petered out in 2025 with six, including two in the final game of the regular season.
The flip side is that he did play well against the Maple Leafs in the postseason, and his defensive play was much improved this season, including time spent on the penalty kill. The Senators outscored the opposition 32-19 with Gaudette on the ice 5v5 this season, per Natural Stat Trick. And his other metrics were largely positive.
Another thing for the Rangers to consider is whether Gaudette has what it takes to play on the third line with higher expectations than on the fourth line as he did in Ottawa. The Rangers already have Sam Carrick to center their fourth line, and he's a perfect fir there, likely playing with Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom next season.
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The best case scenario would be if Gaudette followed in Carrick's footsteps to become a free-agent steal at an affordable price. But there's much to consider before the Rangers pull the trigger on a deal July 1.
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