Adam Gaudette's 2024–25 season will go down as one of the more pleasant surprises in recent Ottawa Senators history.

Here was a guy who was basically out of the NHL for the past two seasons, signing a two-way contract with the Senators for $775,000 — the league's version of minimum wage. Not only did he make the team, the most competitive Senators squad in eight years, but he also finished 6th in team goal scoring with 19.

Today, as a 28-year-old unrestricted free agent, who has never signed the kind of lucrative NHL contract that will put him and his family on Easy Street after hockey, it will be tempting for Gaudette and his agent to hit the open auction and listen to offers on July 1st. No, it won't be a feeding frenzy, but he did prove this season that there is value there.

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Even on his own team, there were players like Claude Giroux and Dylan Cozens who combined for $13.6 million in salary this season, and neither of those players matched Gaudette's 19 goals, even with their superior quality of ice time and linemates. Gaudette didn't wilt in the playoffs either, finishing fifth on the team with a goal and 3 points in 6 games. His takeaway and shorthanded assist on Cozens' huge goal in Game 5 in Toronto deserved a chef's kiss.

When asked about his NHL stock at season's end, Gaudette was confident in his answer.

"Yeah, I think the stock has definitely risen," Gaudette said. "And that was a personal goal of mine is proving that I'm an everyday NHL player and finally getting over that hump of, 'Is he an AHL player or an NHL player?' And I had certain goals for personal goals that I set for myself when I signed here, and I pretty much nailed every one."

All things being equal, the Senators would love to roll it back this fall with Gaudette as their fourth-line center, a player who can move up the roster if others fall into slumps or injury trouble.

But at what cost?

Gaudette won't forego the open auction of free agency if the Sens throw minimum wage at him again. So what will it take? When does it stop making sense? $1.25 million? Two years? Three years?

After that, you have to start looking at the unpleasantness of replaceability, or the possible downsides of rolling things back. Gaudette's offensive stats in the second half of the season fell noticeably, so maybe his first half was an anomaly? What about his skating? He's not really an elite skater. You get the idea.

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It's clear that Gaudette is wide open to re-signing. He and his wife just had a baby earlier this month, so they're probably in the mode of setting down roots. He likes Ottawa, he likes his teammates, and he has a head coach in Travis Green who likes and trusts him as a player, going back to their Vancouver days together.

Gaudette was asked at the year-ender if there have been any contract talks and didn't confirm one way or the other.

"I think they've got some things to figure out over the next few weeks, and after they talk as a staff, they hopefully come back and get something that works for everyone."

That would be nice. But in a cap world where the stars get all the money, the Sens have to be smart with their investments in role players.

Steve Warne
The Hockey News Ottawa

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Since being bought out by the Ducks in June 2019, Corey Perry has been to five of the last six Stanley Cup Finals with the Montréal Canadiens, Dallas Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers. He is one Oilers win away from being in six of the last seven.

The Oilers have lost just twice in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs after going down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. After winning four straight against the Kings, they easily dispatched the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. A series-opening loss to the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Final has become merely a blip as the Oilers have rattled off three consecutive wins, with Perry scoring the game-winning tally in Game 4 on the power play.

Per NHL Public Relations, Perry’s goal, his sixth of the playoffs, is tied for the most by a player age 39 or older in a single postseason, matching Teemu Selanne (6 in 2011 with Anaheim), Mark Recchi (6 in 2010 with Boston), Ron Francis (6 in 2002 with Carolina) and Jean Béliveau (6 in 1971 with Montréal). Perry also became the fifth active player to score 60 career playoff goals, joining AlexOvechkin (77), Sidney Crosby (71), Evgeni Malkin (67) and Brad Marchand (60).

“We found a way after (Dallas tied it) to put one over the line and the power play came through tonight,” Perry said to reporters after the game.

Perry, who turned 40 a little under two weeks ago, isn’t just a long for the ride either. He’s been a valuable contributor, doubling his points total from last year’s run and tying his points total from his two previous postseason performances. Most of his ice time in this season’s playoffs has come alongside Leon Draisaitl and Oilers captain Connor McDavid. Unsurprisingly, the dynamic duo plus Perry are outshooting and outscoring opponents by a wide margin at 5-on-5.

Oilers' Corey Perry Is Their Big Playoff X-FactorEDMONTON – Every team has one.

He’s been a staple on the power play as well, pitching his tent in the five-foot area around the crease and doing his best to cause havoc for the opposing goaltender. Both of Perry’s points in the Game 4 win came on the power play.

It’s been 18 years since Perry lifted the Stanley Cup for the first (and only) time in celebration. He’s come agonizingly close to doing so on several occasions in the years since. The Oilers are looking to ensure he’ll have another chance to raise Lord Stanley once again.

Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) on X"It's one game at a time. And one period at a time. You can't look too far ahead." Corey Perry speaks with @GenePrincipe following his game winner in Game 4

Featured image caption: May 27, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers right wing Corey Perry (90) and center Connor McDavid (97) and center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) celebrates a power play goal scored by Perry against the Dallas Stars during the second period in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

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