The centre of growing attention gets plaudits for checking, scoring and even fighting

KANATA, Ont. — Adam Gaudette’s growing game is predicated on perspective.

Aside from the camera catching his overzealous goal celebrations, the Vancouver Canucks centre has cemented his roster status by doing all the grunt work.

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For every reminder that the Hobey Baker Award winner can convert scoring chances — his quick release in tight quarters off a Quinn Hughes feed found the top corner Saturday against the Boston Bruins — his two gritty assists Tuesday in a come-from-behind 4-3 overtime victory over the Montreal Canadiens were vital.

After starting a scoring sequence, he battled down low to establish position and set a screen. It’s why Alex Edler’s wrist shot from the point went through a maze and beat Carey Price to the glove side.

“This time of the year, if you don’t get to the net and you’re playing against Price, if he sees it he’s probably going to stop it,” said Canucks coach Travis Green.

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For Gaudette, hitting double-digits with 11 goals and 19 assists as a responsible third-liner is commendable, but he can’t lose sight of what got him to the NHL. Being as good without the puck as he can be with is is why Green has often lauded Gaudette for “selling out on every shift” in an alignment with Antoine Roussel and Jake Virtanen.

“The confidence level is pretty good right now and if I can get more physically dominant, the confidence will go even higher,” predicted Gaudette.

It won’t be easy because he has to do the tough stuff.

Gaudette has always skated well enough, but understanding that offence comes from a sound defensive posture has been a work in progress. When you put up 30 goals and 60 points at Northeastern and are named the top Division 1 player, it can go to your head. Not Gaudette.

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck / PNG

LISTEN: Ed Willes and Patrick Johnston join Paul Chapman for the to talk about the team’s resiliency in coming back against Montreal, the genius of Quinn Hughes, the fabulous first impression of Tyler Toffoli (and what it will take to keep him in Vancouver) as well as the loss of Jacob Markstrom.

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He knows he can be stronger on pucks and better in board battles to create more scoring chances. Scoring off the rush is tougher in today’s NHL because teams defend so well. And getting gritty has never been a problem for Gaudette.

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“That is what has got me to this point,” said the 23-year-old native of Braintree, Mass. “I’m not overly skilled but I’ve got more skilled each year just by working on it, and that’s something that has pushed me to the next level. It has always been the work ethic and second efforts on pucks.

“I find we’re spending more time in the O-zone and that’s nice, but we’re still working with each other to figure some stuff out. We’re trying to hang on to pucks longer and get them (opposition) running around in the D-zone, so we can get some momentum. That’s huge.”

So is soaking up tutelage from the ultimate survivor in Roussel and learning to mesh with Virtanen, who scored his career-high 18th goal of the season Tuesday by getting his power-play shot away quickly to pick the top corner on Price.

Roussel would approve.

“He’s always talking,” said Gaudette. “We sit next to each other in the locker room and we’re always suggesting things and thinking, ‘What if we did this and what if we did that?’ It’s great. You figure yourself out more and learn his tendencies and he figures out mine and we go off that.”

Gaudette’s persistency against Chicago on Feb. 12 drew the ire of Blackhawks defenceman Connor Murphy. He laid a questionable hit on Gaudette, who then dropped the mitts in convincing fashion.

“Just sticking up for myself,” he said. “I thought it was a high hit and I didn’t even have the puck and he lunged a bit. I kind of got ticked off a bit and it happened.”

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It didn’t go unnoticed.

“He gives you an honest effort every night and wants to be a player and a good player,” Green said of the club’s fifth-round 2015 draft pick. “I like him a lot.”

The coach will also like that Gaudette is learning to harness his offensive ability. That goal against the Bruins is what Gaudette has learned to also adapt to his game.

“Guys are so good with their sticks and picking yours up at the net,” he said. “You’ve kind of got to be deceptive when you don’t have the puck and it’s something you learn as you go — to be quick and get on pucks right away.

“They (Bruins) are good but so are we, and we proved we can beat anybody,” added Gaudette. “With Hughes and my goal, we’ve been in that situation a couple of times, where he comes down the wall and I’m trying to make room.

“I just tried to get into position for a shot or a rebound on the net and he made a nice pass.”

Gaudette is geared to be a scorer, playmaker and shutdown centre and hopes to eventually emulate the strong two-way presence of Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews.

“They just play a 200-foot game, can also produce, are good leaders and can be used in all situations,” said Gaudette.

If the Canucks can say all that about Gaudette one day, he’s going to have a long NHL stay.