Canucks: Adam Gaudette traded to Chicago for Matt Highmore

The Vancouver Canucks have made their first move on Trade Deadline day. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Canucks have traded centreman and former Hobey Baker winner, Adam Gaudette, to the Chicago Blackhawks for left-winger Matthew Highmore.

The trades comes just days after Canucks’ general manager, Jim Benning, said that he wouldn’t be moving any players at the deadline this year because of everything the players have gone through lately with the recent COVID-19 outbreak sidelining 22 of their players.

It’s interesting that it’s Gaudette who is on the way out considering the fact that he was the first player on the Canucks to receive a positive test result. Is it some sort of punishment or just the luck of the draw?

In return, Highmore is a three-year NHL professional with 73 games under his belt. He’s recorded 10 points (4 goals and 6 assists) at the NHL level and has been a bit of a 13th forward. He played 36 games last season and has played in 24 games in 2021.

Highmore will likely fly into Vancouver and begin his Canada required seven-day quarantine — one that was recently shortened from the original 14 days. Gaudette, on the other hand, will likely have to test negative and complete his quarantine before flying from Vancouver across the border to Chicago.

Both players have dipped in production this season, particularly Gaudette who went from being a 33 point player last season to having just seven points this year (4 goals, 3 assists). Whether it’s lack of production or some other reason, Gaudette’s time in Vancouver is up, and it’s time for Highmore to show everyone why the Canucks made the trade they did.

If everything goes according to play, Vancouver returns to the ice this Friday, meaning it’s likely that Highmore doesn’t see game action until early next week once he’s completed his quarantine.

What do you think of the deal Canucks Nation? Let us know if the comment section!