Chicago Blackhawks: Adam Gaudette Belongs In The NHL

Adam Gaudette had a great start to the Chicago Blackhawks season during the first preseason game. After that game one thing is certain, he belongs in the NHL lineup on October 13th.

The Chicago Blackhawks traded for Adam Gaudette when they sent Matthew Highmore to the Vancouver Canucks before last year’s trade deadline.

This past summer the team re-signed Gaudette to a cheap one-year deal giving him another chance to prove himself, and it seems like it could pay off big time for the team. Gaudette was stellar in game one.

Gaudette put up six shots on goal, had two hits, and had two takeaways on the night. He did so well he was eventually moved up to the Toews line midway through the game. Personally, I think it could be interesting to see what Gaudette could bring to the table on a line with Jonathan Toews, but I do recognize there are a lot of players vying for spots.

This is a different Gaudette than fans saw briefly last season. Gaudette had an entire offseason to get healthy and get up to speed in Chicago, and he definitely has done that. While he is not in tonight’s lineup, I do not think that is a knock on him, rather an opportunity to see where some other players are at.

There is a real chance that Blackhawks fans will see him on the road this preseason playing center on a top-line as the team probably won’t send too many stars on the road, and Gaudette is another player that could center a line for this team if anyone falls to an injury.

So there is no doubt that Gaudette belongs in the NHL, where the team ends up using him is the question that remains. Personally, I think a line with Kirby Dach and a guy like Philipp Kurashev or Alex Nylander could be fun to watch as all three would bring something a little different to the table.

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Now we have to wait until tonight to see who stands out from the rest, Gaudette won’t be in the lineup so there so it will be interesting to see who rises to the occasion and maybe surprises Colliton and the coaching staff. There is some opportunities to make the lineup still, only 12 forwards can play, and I think Gaudette should be one of them.