Adam Gaudette has become a trade bait piece for Senators

One player the Ottawa Senators didn't expect to have a huge impact immediately in the 2024-25 season is Adam Gaudette. On July 2, Gaudette signed a one-year, $775,000 contract to join the Senators.

Gaudette had his big break out season in 2019-20 when he recorded 33 points with the Vancouver Canucks. However, Gaudette's career was spiraling around crazy after 2020 when he played for three teams from 2021-2022. One of those three teams was the Senators. Gaudette played 50 games for the Senators in the 2021-22 season.

After 2022, Gaudette didn't play in the NHL until January 2024 with the St. Louis Blues. Gaudette played just two games for the Blues last season and his career had uncertainty. Gaudette needed to revitalize his career when he joined the Senators and he has, but his tenure with the Senators could be in question.

Gaudette's shocking offensive boost and expiring contract has made him trade bait

At 28 years old, Gaudette has been one of the biggest surprises this season for the Senators with recording nine points, but eight of his points have been goals. Gaudette's eight goals is tied for second on the team alongside Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson and Josh Norris. That's impressive for Gaudette who has only missed one game this season.

In October, Gaudette scored two goals in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights and his former team from last season, the Blues. Prior to his two-goal games, Gaudette hadn't scored two goals in a game since November 2019.

Gaudette's contract for his offensive production has been a steal of a contract compared to some of the other contracts on the Senators. Michael Amadio, Nick Cousins and David Perron all signed with the Senators in free agency and each have a higher salary than Gaudette, but have less points than Gaudette this season.

Unfortunately, Gaudette's surprising production this season has put his name in trade bait for the Senators. For a player with a shocking eight goals and being able to work the powerplay, teams around the NHL could have interest in Gaudette in a trade. Being on an expiring contract also factors in for Gaudette to be trade bait.

Three of Gaudette's eight goals have come on the powerplay this season. Gaudette has scored a powerplay goal in two of the past four games. Gaudette scored a powerplay goal last game against Vegas in the third period to cut the deficit to 2-1. Gaudette's goal against Vegas was his third of the season against Vegas.

With the Senators home tonight against the Vancouver Canucks at 7 p.m. ET, it offers as another opportunity for Gaudette to be a surprise on the offense, but also for the Senators to get hot as a team. The Senators are on a four-game losing streak and need to find consistency.