Last season, Adam Gaudette joined the Ottawa Senators on a one-year contract. In a make-or-break year, Gaudette delivered with a career year producing 19 goals. However, Gaudette wouldn't return this past Summer.
Gaudette left the Senators for the San Jose Sharks in free agency. Gaudette signed a two-year contract to join a young Sharks roster.
Now at 29 years old, Gaudette can help provide veteran leadership to a young Sharks team looking for guidance. In his second game as a Shark, Gaudette delivered big in teal.
Gaudette records best game as a Shark early into 2025-26 season
Last night, the Sharks fell 7-6 in overtime to the Anaheim Ducks to fall to 0-0-2 in the 2025-26 season, but Gaudette delivered a fantastic game to have his first big game as a Shark.
After recording no points in his Sharks debut on Thursday night, Gaudette recorded one goal and one assist in the overtime loss last night. Gaudette recorded an assist on the Sharks' second goal of the game scored by grinder Ryan Reaves. Goals by Reaves don't happen often, but recording the primary assist on one was a special moment for Gaudette and Reaves.
In the second period, Gaudette scored his first goal as a Shark on a one-timer on a powerplay. The goal helped put the Sharks up 5-3 in the game. Unfortunately for Gaudette, the Sharks' defense and goaltending struggled in the end with a two-goal collapse in the third period to then losing in overtime.
Even in defeat and playing less than nine minutes of ice time, Gaudette is making the most of his opportunity early in San Jose. Gaudette is showing as he did in Ottawa last season, that he can be a reliable option on the powerplay.
While the Senators traded for Kurtis MacDermid six days before the season opener, the team hasn't gotten much production out of him two games in as the team did with Gaudette last season. So far, Gaudette has the potential to be an unsung and underappreciated player in San Jose after breaking through in his second game with the team.