This summer, Jason Newland and I will continue our series looking at potential free agent targets who could be available on July 1.

Target: Adam Gaudette – F –  7 Years Experience

As we wrap up the top 50 available free agents, we land on Adam Gaudette—who is coming off a strong bounce-back season with the Ottawa Senators. After it once looked like he was going to be an everyday player with the Vancouver Canucks, his career took a turn, bouncing between the NHL and AHL. Now, following his 2024-25 season, Gaudette will look to find a new NHL home if he isn’t re-signed by Ottawa and try to build off the year he just had.

Stats

Gaudette played in 81 games for the Senators last season, scoring 19 goals and adding seven assists for 26 points while finishing with a +12 rating. The 19 goals marked a new career-high, though his best season in terms of points came back in 2019-20 when he posted 33 points in 59 games. Over his career, he has suited up in 301 games, tallying 46 goals and 50 assists for 96 points.

Previous Salary

Over the past few years, Gaudette has signed for league-minimum contracts. Most recently, he inked a one-year deal with Ottawa worth $775,000. Contract projections suggest he could land a one-year deal in the $1.1 million range this summer.

Realistic Chances of a Signing: Cold

If I had to guess, I’d say the Columbus Blue Jackets likely won’t be in the mix for Gaudette. They already have a logjam of bottom-six depth forwards, and bringing him in would just block a young prospect from earning an NHL job next season.

Unless Gaudette is open to a two-way contract and the risk of spending more time in the AHL, there really isn’t a logical path that sees him signing in Columbus. Plus, with GM Don Waddell focusing on re-signing key UFA's and keeping tabs on bigger names around the league, depth signings like this likely won’t be on the radar until well into July.

Blue Jackets' Top Prospect Commits To Michigan State It was reported earlier this season that Columbus Blue Jackets’ top prospect Cayden Lindstrom would be heading to Michigan State University in the fall—and now it’s official.

2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Potential Free Agent Targets: Brandon Saad This summer,&nbsp;<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/author/jason-newland">Jason Newland&nbsp;</a>and I will continue our series looking at potential free agent targets who could be available on July 1.

Sean Monahan Wins The Masterton Trophy Sean Monahan has won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. A well-deserved win for the best friend of Johnny Gaudreau. It's given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

Ivan Provorov's Wife Madison Gives Compliments To Columbus; Expresses Desire To Stay With Blue Jackets Players who play and live in Columbus have grown to understand that it's a very underrated city. Columbusites have always known this and will defend Columbus tooth and nail. But now it seems the stigma of 6 years ago may finally be wearing off. First Johnny Gaudreau, then Sean Monahan, who's next? Stay tuned this summer for that answer.&nbsp;

2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Potential Free Agent Targets: Connor Brown This summer,&nbsp;<a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/author/spencer-lazary">Spencer Lazary</a>&nbsp;and I will continue our series with more potential free agent targets that could be on the market on July 1st.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;