College sensation, Gaudette, to debut for Canucks tonight
VANCOUVER — After enjoying plenty of success during his college hockey career, Adam Gaudette understands the rough road that may lay ahead now that he’s signed with the NHL Vancouver Canucks.
Gaudette is expected to make his NHL debut when Vancouver plays the Edmonton Oilers tonight. He signed a three-year deal with the Canucks on Monday after his college team, the Northeastern University Huskies, was eliminated Saturday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
The 21-year-old centre from Braintree, Mass., expects to have about 20 family and friends at Rogers Arena for tonight’s game.
“I think it’s more excitement than nerves,” Gaudette said after skating with the Canucks on Wednesday. “I don’t see myself getting really nervous.
“I’m just going to go out there and have fun,” he added.
Gaudette is leaving a Northeastern program that advanced to the NCAA tournament twice in the last three seasons and this year won the prestigious Beanpot tournament. He comes to a Canuck team that was sitting 28th in the NHL as of Wednesday with a 28-40-9 record.
Knowing Vancouver will miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season — and for the fourth time in five years — hasn’t dampened Gaudette’s enthusiasm for the future.
The year before he joined Northeastern, the Huskies started the season 0-8-2. They came out of the gate 1-11-2 in his freshman year.
“I have kind of been in that situation before,” said Gaudette. “We turned that around in a matter of three years. “I’m just trying to come in and do my part to make this team better.”
Gaudette followed the Canucks’ season while attending school.
“I’m sure my teachers weren’t too happy that I was watching the highlights in class,” he said.
The Canucks drafted Gaudette in the fifth round, 149th overall, in 2015. Besides bringing a badly needed scoring touch to Vancouver, at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, he also plays with an edge.
“It’s easy to have an attitude (in college), you don’t have anyone trying to fight you,” Gaudette joked.
As a college rookie, Gaudette had 12 goals and 30 points. This year, he led all NCAA players with 30 goals and 60 points. He has a quick-release wrist shot and doesn’t shy away from going to the net.
Head coach Travis Green hopes to use Gaudette in Vancouver’s five remaining games. He’s expected to start as a fourth-line centre.
“I want to see what kind of player he is, where he’s at,” said Green. “He doesn’t have to show me anything more than what he is.
“I’m not looking for him to be something he’s not. I want him to feel comfortable, try to keep confidence.”
Experiencing some playing time late in the season should show Gaudette what areas of his game he will need to improve on over the summer as he prepares for next fall’s training camp.