Adam Gaudette was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks by the Vancouver Canucks on Monday for Matthew Highmore.
Gaudette has scored seven points (four goals, three assists) in 33 games this season. The center can become a restricted free agent after the season.
Selected by Vancouver in the fifth round (No. 149) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Gaudette has scored 52 points (21 goals, 33 assists) in 153 regular-season games and no points in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
“Obviously, we saw him a lot last year when we played them,” Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “He’s big and skilled, I think he scored, made some plays against us, but still a young player. We’ll get him here and go from there.”
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Gaudette scored three points (two goals, one assist) in three games against Chicago last season.
Gaudette was removed from the NHL COVID-19 protocol list Sunday. He was placed on the list March 30, the first of 22 Vancouver players and four staff members to test positive for a variant of the coronavirus. The Canucks haven’t played since March 24 and have had eight games postponed. Vancouver remains scheduled to play the Edmonton Oilers on Friday.
Canucks general manager Jim Benning said Friday he didn’t expect to be active before the NHL Trade Deadline because of how the virus has affected the players and their families.
“I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do at this point in time,” Benning said.
Highmore has two assists in 24 games this season. The 25-year-old forward, who was signed by Chicago as an undrafted free agent March 2, 2017, has scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 73 games with the Blackhawks. He can become a restricted free agent after next season.
“Obviously when you’re with a guy for several years, you have a relationship,” Colliton said. “One thing you appreciate about Highmore is his work ethic and attention to detail. Probably, it’s hard to find a bigger team guy with his willingness to do the right thing for the team at all times. He’s done well with the opportunity that he’s gotten. From his standpoint, hopefully he can use this to get a little boost and new opportunity.”
Vancouver (16-18-3) is sixth in the seven-team Scotia North Division, eight points behind the fourth-place Montreal Canadiens.
The Blackhawks (19-18-5) are fifth in the Discover Central Division, four points behind the fourth-place Nashville Predators, and visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, BSOH, NBCSCH, NHL.TV).
The top four teams in each of the four divisions will qualify for the playoffs.
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