It's not unexpected, as you know they are going to give Richardson a chance, but if the job of a fourth line role player is to play uneventful minutes then Gawdin was getting the job done well. He's 2nd on the team at preventing chances against among forwards who played both games (9.89 scoring chances against per 60) and second last in generating scoring chances among forwards (26.37 per 60).
Personally, I would prefer to see Ritchie dropped out of the line up to make room, but again with a center coming back and Gawdin still having room to develop, I don't see an issue with sending him down.
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