Blackhawks Add Gaudette From Vancouver For Highmore

The Chicago Blackhawks have reportedly traded for Adam Gaudette from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Matthew Highmore. The news broke Monday by Pierre LeBrun.

Highmore has been with the Blackhawks since the 2017-18 season and has played 73 games with the team. This year he has kind of fallen out of the lineup at times and has spent a lot of time on the taxi squad and scratched. The team is bringing in Adam Gaudette who has played 153 games in the NHL and might have a little bit more upside than Highmore.

The Hawks are bringing in another forward that did not work out with his first team and now will get a change of scenery. If Chicago gives Gaudette a spot on the third line I think he can really be a reliable piece in the bottom six. Highmore was good defensively but did not contribute offensively, now the team adds someone who put up 33 points in 59 games last season.

Gaudette will be an RFA at the end of the season and should be back with the team next year as Chicago does have a lot of cap space. There is a chance Gaudette only plays a game or two this season with the team as Vancouver has had a lot of COVID issues and the Hawks are going to have to have Gaudette quarantine when he gets to Chicago.

Was this a good move by Chicago Blackhawks for their future or for this season?

Highmore really has not been that great this season, so giving him up to add Gaudette really does not hurt the team. Like trading for Hinostroza or the five-player swap a few days ago, this move is not costing the Hawks much and is just bringing in more players to help the team in the future.

Stan Bowman is really emphasizing forwards right now as the team has brought in Hinostroza, Borgstrom, Connolly, and now Gaudette. Hopefully, we will be back later today talking about another trade!

Gaudette is listed as a center on Hockey Reference, but it is worth noting that his career faceoff percentage is 41.1 percent.