It's less of a hit for Gaudette who is guaranteed $450k AHL or $775k in the NHL. For the Sens anything he earns on the AHL contract up to $450k is a saving on his NHL cap. I wouldn't be surprised that he will earn at least $325k In the NHL games he plays so in the long run he probably doesn't lose a penny unless he is sent down long term.
If he earns $325k in the NHL he will earn $261k on his AHL deal, 583k total, so ~175k less than him staying on his NHL deal full time.
It's not as big for Gaudette as it is Ostapchuk money wise, but it's still a pretty large hit for a min salary guy.
Every day Gaudette is sent down off the NHL roster for cap reasons he loses close to 1500 dollars. 1/192 has him making $4036 bucks every day he's papered in the NHL
He makes $4036 bucks every day he's on the NHL roster, and $2344 every day he's on the AHL roster.
It's way, way worse for Ostapchuk on his ELC. He makes $4300 every day he's on the NHL roster, and $417 every day he's on the AHL roster.
Losing ~4k a day for paper transactions is rough, but makes sense from the Sens POV.