Adam Gaudette and Nick Cousins both delivered for the Ottawa Senators this season in their own ways. On Sunday, they each experienced a very different kind of delivery — the arrival of their newborn sons.
The team announced on Sunday that both fourth-line forwards welcomed baby boys over the long weekend.
Gaudette and his wife, Micaela, welcomed Kylo Greyson Gaudette, while Cousins and his wife, Nina, celebrated the birth of Max Cousins.
For Gaudette, the birth of his son capped off a season filled with positives, a major turnaround after his previous two years, spent mostly in the minors. Gaudette's Ottawa sequel began slowly, signing a two-way contract last summer and starting the season on waivers. The 27-year-old cleared, then played his way into a regular role and finished with 19 goals, ranking sixth on the team.
He earned steady trust from head coach Travis Green, who had also coached him in Vancouver. That familiarity helped, but Gaudette’s early scoring touch and consistent play kept him in the lineup and made him one of Ottawa’s most pleasant surprises this year.
Cousins brought a different kind of value. The 31-year-old veteran added grit, energy, and a reliable physical presence to the Senators’ bottom six. He played in 50 games, posting 6 goals and 9 assists, before suffering a knee injury in January during a game against Toronto. After missing a large chunk of the second half, he returned in time for the playoffs.
With both players set to become unrestricted free agents this summer, it’s uncertain whether they’ll be back in Ottawa next season. It would be a shame to see them go, especially now with all the playdates and shared birthday parties their boys would miss.
Steve Warne
The Hockey News
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