Taunton native Adam Gaudette recalled by St. Louis Blues
A Taunton native who first laced up his skates at the Aleixo Arena and Raynham SportsPlex is now back in the big show.
Center Adam Gaudette was recalled by the St. Louis Blues Wednesday from their AHL affiliate the Springfield Thunderbirds. The move came in conjunction with the Blues placing forward Kasperi Kapanen on injured reserve after he suffered a lower body injury that will see him out at least four weeks.
Gaudette, who was drafted 149th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2015, has had an outstanding season so far for the Thunderbirds. The 27 year old has netted an AHL leading 24 goals as well as 12 assists for 36 points, the third best tally in the league. He had also been named an AHL All-Star.
Gaudette made his Blues debut Thursday night, playing nearly nine minutes in a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals. The Taunton native is no stranger to the NHL, having made 219 appearances recording 27 goals and 43 assists for the Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators. He signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2022, playing 40 games for their AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies before being traded to St. Louis last February in a three-team deal with the Minnesota Wild that also involved former Boston Bruins center and Johnston, R.I. native Noel Acciari.
“I’m a completely different player than I was (my last NHL stint), and I’m excited to showcase that,” Gaudette told Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press Friday. “The most important thing I’ve been focusing on is my two-way game. I’ve been really focused on my details and doing the things, and in doing so that leads to the offense. I know I’m going to get my chances, and I have the confidence to put the puck in the back of the net.”
Gaudette is the son of Taunton firefighter Doug Gaudette and Tara Gaudette, who works at Elizabeth Pole Elementary School and was a standout softball player in her own right for Taunton High. He grew up playing sports in Taunton, helping lead the Taunton West Nationals to the 2008 Mass. Little League Division 6 title, before his family moved to Brookline while he was attending and playing hockey for Thayer Academy.
Gaudette played college hockey for Northeastern University, winning the 2018 Hobey Baker Award as the top men’s hockey player in the NCAA while also helping to lead the Huskies to their first Beanpot win since 1988.
He hasn’t been a stranger to the Silver City, having suited up for the Taunton Fire Department hockey team as a surprise guest during a charity game at the Aleixo Arena in 2018.
In St. Louis, he’s been reunited with former Thunderbirds coach Drew Bannister, who took over as the Blues interim coach following the firing of Craig Berube last month.
“I think we need that throughout our lineup: guys that want to shoot more than look to pass, and Adam brings that,” Bannister told the AP’s Whyno Friday. "He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now, so I think it’s a good opportunity for us to put him in the lineup and see if he can have success with us.”
Gaudette and the Blues return to the ice Saturday as they host the Capitals while looking to snap a three-game losing skid.
Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton native Adam Gaudette recalled by NHL’s St. Louis Blues
