Vancouver will have to wait another year before getting Adam Gaudette in the mix.
Gaudette, who enjoyed a breakout campaign at NCAA Northeastern this year with 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games, told News 1130 he’s returning to school for his junior campaign, rather than turn pro.
A fifth-round pick in 2015, Gaudette looks to be a potential draft steal. He led the country in power play goals this year, with 16, and TSN analyst Craig Button called him a “gem.”
Gaudette further upped his stock by being named a finalist for the Walter Brown Award, given annually to the best American-born college player in New England (other candidates include Ottawa prospect Colin White, and Bruins prospect Charlie McAvoy).
With Northeastern’s season over, there was much speculation the Canucks would persuade the 20-year-old to go pro.
“More development is best option for me,” Gaudette said as part of his explanation for going back to school. “Put on more weight and get faster and quicker.”
Vancouver is still expected to make a push for prized North Dakota prospect Brock Boeser to go pro at the end of his collegiate season. Boeser was the Canucks’ first-round pick (23rd overall) in ’15.