Toronto Maple Leafs: Signing Adam Gaudette Is Risk-Free

The Toronto Maple Leafs have managed to add a useful player in Adam Gaudette, with the move being almost completely risk-free on their part.

The signing of Adam Gaudette is highly unlikely to come back and bite the Toronto Maple Leafs later on.

Adam Gaudette has a season above 30 points in the NHL to his name as well as a season above 10 goals, and the newest addition to the team isn’t arriving with an over-zealous cap hit.

The reason Gaudette is basically a risk-free deal is that he will cost just $750,000 this season, which means if he makes the team, he probably returns value on the money spent, and if he doesn’t, it won’t cost anything.

Can Adam Gaudette Stick with the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Of course, since Adam Gaudette put up that 33-point (12 goals and 21 assists) in 59 games with the Vancouver Canucks, he has struggled to establish himself as a true full-time NHL player.

His next season in Vancouver failed to live up to the expectations he’d set, followed by a season with the Ottawa Senators last year that really fizzled. In fact, it’s half the reason the Toronto Maple Leafs have been able to add him on a league-minimum deal.

Now, one of the major concerns for Gaudette has been his health and this is where the  Leafs organization shines. They have a team of doctors and medical staff that can seemingly work wonders on anyone and will set Gaudette up for success in that regard.

Clearly the talent is there as he managed those point totals with Antoine Roussel and Jake Virtanen as his most regular even-strength line mates (per Frozen Pool).

On the Leafs, he’ll be among ten or so players competing for spots in the bottom half of the lineup that aren’t already taken up by Kamp, Engvall, Jarnkrok, Aube-Kubel and potentially Kerfoot.

Even so, Gaudette has enough talent that he might provide the Toronto Maple Leafs with a modicum of secondary scoring.

If nothing else, this is a contract that is very easily waived and tucked away in the minors. It’s only short-term which prevents the need for any sort of trade that sees valuable assets shipped out to rid the team of the deal.

All in all, it’s a winning deal because if it pays off it’s essentially found money for the Toronto Maple Leafs. If it turns out to be a flop, expect Gaudette to be waived and head up the Toronto Marlies line-up.