St. Louis Blues Place Defenseman Marc-Andre Gaudet on Waivers as Training Camp Cuts Loom

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Blues have initiated the latest phase of their training camp roster trimming, placing young defenseman Marc-Andre Gaudet on waivers. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first reported the move Saturday afternoon, signaling a critical juncture in the 22-year-old blueliner’s professional development as the organization evaluates its depth ahead of the 2026-27 National Hockey League regular season.

Gaudet, a 6-foot-3, left-shot defenseman originally drafted by the Blues in the fifth round (152nd overall) of the 20th NHL Draft, is currently playing out the final year of his three-year, entry-level contract. He carries an NHL cap hit of $877,500. Should he clear waivers unclaimed by Sunday afternoon, Gaudet is expected to be assigned to the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Springfield Thunderbirds, where he spent the entirety of the previous campaign carving out an important role within the organization’s minor-league system.

The timing of the waiver placement underscores the accelerated pace of NHL training camps, where roster spots are rapidly filling up and front offices are forced to make difficult decisions regarding the fringes of their talent pools. For Gaudet, a native of Moncton, New Brunswick, this development marks both a hurdle and an opportunity to continue refining his game at the professional level as he heads toward restricted free agency next summer.

Main Facts and Current Situation

The transaction involving Gaudet comes at a time of heightened activity at the Enterprise Center. Hours before the Blues officially announced or had news leaked regarding his waiver status, Gaudet was spotted skating as an extra defenseman during a training camp session with the "non-game group"—the segment of the roster held back from Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Dallas Stars in St. Louis.

This specific deployment served as a clear harbinger of Saturday’s transaction. NHL coaching staffs frequently separate game-night rosters from players slated for reassignment or further evaluation, and Gaudet’s inclusion among the non-game skaters hinted that his immediate future lay away from the NHL club’s active lineup.

At 22 years old, Gaudet represents a classic example of a modern developmental project on the blueline: a player with prototypical size (6-foot-3) and offensive upside who requires time, patience, and heavy minutes to round out his defensive awareness at the professional level. Under the terms of his entry-level contract, which runs through the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, any NHL team has the opportunity to claim Gaudet’s contract outright by noon on Sunday. If he passes through unclaimed, the Blues retain full control of his rights and can assign him to Springfield without cap penalties, provided he meets the criteria for waiver exemption or clears successfully.

The move also initiates what is traditionally a wave of roster cuts for St. Louis. As head coach and general manager Doug Armstrong evaluate the remaining pieces fighting for bottom-pairing defensive roles and depth positions, clearing waivers allows the organization to streamline practice structures and afford prime ice time to players who remain in the mix for NHL minutes.

Chronology of a Prospect: From Moncton to the Pros

Marc-Andre Gaudet’s hockey journey has been defined by steady progression, from the rigorous rinks of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) to the developmental trenches of the ECHL and AHL. Understanding his current waiver placement requires a retrospective look at the milestones that brought him to St. Louis.

Junior Hockey Success in the QMJHL

Gaudet established his foundation in major junior hockey, playing the majority of his QMJHL career with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan before experiencing stops with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens and the Sherbrooke Phoenix. Known during his junior days as a mobile defenseman capable of quarterbacking a power play, Gaudet steadily improved his offensive output year over year.

His breakout performance arrived during the 2022-23 QMJHL season—a campaign split between Chicoutimi and Sherbrooke. In 66 regular-season games, Gaudet put up an impressive 15 goals and 61 points, showcasing the offensive instincts that initially caught the eye of Blues scouts. He followed up that regular-season success with a strong playoff run, contributing nine points in 14 postseason contests with the Phoenix.

Midway through that final junior season, in December 2022, the Blues rewarded his growth by signing him to a three-year entry-level contract, solidifying his status as an organizational asset.

Entering the Professional Ranks: Orlando and Springfield

Upon the completion of his junior career, Gaudet made the jump to professional hockey for the 2023-24 season. Rather than slotting immediately into a full-time AHL role, the organization opted to give the young defenseman developmental minutes with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears.

The assignment proved beneficial. Gaudet adjusted quickly to the physical demands of professional hockey, dressing for 55 games with Orlando and compiling 26 points. Crucially, that season also offered his first taste of the AHL level, as he appeared in eight games with the Springfield Thunderbirds, laying the groundwork for a more permanent promotion.

Establishing Pro Consistency

The 2024-25 campaign served as a transitional year, with Gaudet splitting time between Springfield and another ECHL stop with the Florida Everblades. While bouncing between leagues can disrupt a prospect’s rhythm, Gaudet used the adversity to build resilience and tighten his defensive coverage.

By the 2025-26 season, Gaudet had finally graduated to full-time status in the AHL. Skated primarily in a top-four role with Springfield, he enjoyed a productive year, collecting five goals and 20 points across 53 regular-season games. Furthermore, he demonstrated a competitive edge when the games mattered most, adding one goal and four points in 11 playoff contests for the Thunderbirds.

When the dust settled on the 2025-26 AHL regular season, Gaudet had cemented himself as one of Springfield’s most reliable offensive threats from the backend, finishing second only to veteran defenseman Calle Rosen in team scoring among blueliners.

Supporting Data and Contractual Details

A deeper dive into the numbers reveals why the Blues invested a fifth-round selection in Gaudet and why his waiver placement is a calculated risk rather than a definitive parting of ways.

Statistical Breakdown

Draft Position: 2022 NHL Draft, Round 5, No. 152 overall by the St. Louis Blues.
Physical Profile: 6-foot-3, left-shot defenseman.
2025-27 Contract Terms: Three-year entry-level contract (ELC) carrying an annual average value (AAV) and NHL cap hit of $877,500.
2025-26 AHL Statistics (Springfield Thunderbirds): 53 games played, 5 goals, 15 assists, 20 points.
2025-26 AHL Playoffs: 11 games played, 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points.
Junior Career High (2022-23): 66 games played (Chicoutimi/Sherbrooke), 15 goals, 46 assists, 61 points.

Contract Status and Future Roster Flexibility

Gaudet’s contract structure plays a vital role in his current waiver availability. Entering the final year of his ELC, he represents a low-risk, affordable depth option for any NHL franchise seeking cost-controlled defensive prospects. Teams near the salary cap ceiling frequently monitor waiver wires for young players on sub-$1 million deals who can be safely stashed in the minor leagues or utilized in case of an injury crisis.

If Gaudet clears waivers and reports to Springfield, he will play out the 2026-27 season aiming to prove that his offensive numbers in the AHL were no fluke. Because he will become a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights (dependent on games played) or standard qualifying offer requirements next summer, a strong campaign in the minors will directly dictate his next contract—whether that is a bridge deal with St. Louis or an opportunity elsewhere.

Official Responses and Organizational Perspective

While major roster cuts often prompt official press conferences or statements from general managers, the day-to-day reality of training camp operations means that player movement is frequently communicated through media reports and practice observation.

Head Coach and leadership figures within the St. Louis organization have consistently emphasized the need for internal competition. Training camps are designed to push established veterans while providing a transparent measuring stick for young prospects to prove they can handle the speed, structure, and physical demands of the NHL level.

By placing Gaudet on waivers, the Blues are not signaling a permanent give-up on the 22-year-old’s ceiling. Instead, modern NHL asset management dictates that young defensemen require heavy, high-leverage minutes to develop properly—minutes that are rarely available to a 22-year-old on the fringes of an NHL roster. Forcing a young player to sit in the press box as a healthy scratch night after night is widely considered detrimental to their growth. By assigning him to Springfield, the organization ensures that Gaudet will log top-four minutes, play in all situations (including power play and penalty kill units), and continue his trajectory away from the intense spotlight of the NHL.

Broader Implications for the St. Louis Blues

The decision to waive Marc-Andre Gaudet ripples across several facets of the Blues’ organizational strategy as they finalize their opening-night roster.

1. Defensive Depth and Training Camp Battles

The Blues boast a mix of veteran stability and emerging youth on their backend. With defensemen battling for the final roster spots and seventh-man duties, the competition has been fierce throughout training camp. Waiving Gaudet trims the immediate training camp roster, allowing the coaching staff to focus their evaluations on the remaining defensemen who are pushing for NHL jobs.

2. The Springfield Thunderbirds Pipeline

For the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, retaining a player of Gaudet’s caliber is a major boost. After finishing second among Springfield defensemen in scoring last year, Gaudet is expected to step into an even larger leadership and offensive role in the minor leagues this season. A strong AHL defensive corps is essential for insulating the franchise against inevitable NHL injuries. Having a player with Gaudet’s familiarity with the system ensures continuity in Springfield.

3. Risk Assessment of the Waiver Wire

Whenever a team places a young, cost-controlled asset on waivers, there is an inherent risk that another franchise—particularly one struggling with defensive depth or rebuilding—will put in a claim. Teams higher up the waiver priority list (determined by the previous season’s standings or early-season lottery rules) have the first opportunity to acquire Gaudet’s contract.

However, general managers are often hesitant to claim young prospects unless they are prepared to carry them on their active NHL roster immediately, as sending a claimed player back down through waivers requires offering them back to the original team or exposing them to the entire league once more. Given these procedural hurdles, many evaluators expect Gaudet to clear waivers and remain within the St. Louis organization.

Conclusion and What’s Next

As the St. Louis Blues continue their preseason schedule, the focus will shift to how the remainder of the training camp roster shakes out. For Marc-Andre Gaudet, Saturday’s waiver report is merely a temporary detour in a professional career that is still in its formative stages.

Whether he catches on with another club via a waiver claim or returns to the Springfield Thunderbirds to anchor their blueline for the 2026-27 season, Gaudet possesses the physical tools, pedigree, and offensive instincts to remain an intriguing name in professional hockey circles. The coming days will provide definitive clarity as the waiver window closes and the Blues march closer to puck drop on a brand-new NHL campaign.