Thanks to Northeastern University being awesome and
streaming virtually every game of theirs, I've been more and more exposed to this kid's game. And I like him. Last season he really turned it on during the second half and this season he's gotten off to a fantastic start with 20 points in 14 games and some remarkable shot totals, riding shotgun with Blackhawks draft pick Dylan Sikura (who I'm also quite fond of).
The main thing I see from him when I watch him is a smart hockey player. He knows his limitations and he doesn't try to expand beyond them. He doesn't overcommit on the forecheck, nor does he consistently try to unsuccessfully fly through the opposing team's defenders. He could definitely benefit from bulking up a bit. Ideally he'd have the same weight as someone like Nick Bonino, who is actually pretty similar to Gaudette in terms of playing style. Gaudette isn't fast, especially in terms of his first step (a very recurring theme among late round prospects), but he's strong on his feet and tough to take off of the puck. He has the ability to stickhandle in many situations and he's surprisingly elusive for a guy with subpar skating skills. He often makes his linemates better and he's great at setting them up, though his shot is nothing to scoff at either. Defensively he's very sound, I rarely see him out of position and he's quite smart with his stickchecking.
I wasn't exactly thrilled with the pick when it was made, but he's tracked quite well for a 5th rounder. I think it's pretty reasonable to suggest that this guy could contribute in Utica as early as next season.