Attention Seattle Kraken forwards: your spot on the 2025-26 roster isn’t guaranteed.
The Kraken made that clear Thursday by trading for their third forward in a week, obtaining Frederick Gaudreau from the Minnesota Wild for a 2025 4th round draft pick. The Kraken are hoping they’re getting the Gaudreau who scored 18 goals for the Wild last season and a career-high 19 in 2022-23, not the Gaudreau who scored just five two seasons ago.
“Gaudreau has had the best bounce-back season to become key to the Wild’s turnaround while suiting up for every game,” wrote the Minneapolis Star-Tribune in March. “He can play center and wing, up and down the lineup and both sides of special teams.” He’s also a shootout specialist, once scoring eight shootout goals in a single season.
The 32-year-old has three seasons remaining on a $2.1 million AAV contract signed in 2023. THN believed that was good value for the money. “There are not many middle-six centers in the NHL who score 15 to 20 goals a year while playing top notch defense for just $2.1 million.” Speculation is that Minnesota parted with a versatile pro not for the seemingly low return, but to free up cap space – just as Dallas did earlier this month, trading Mason Marchment to Seattle.
“Frederick’s a versatile skater who plays a strong two-way game,” said Kraken general manager Jason Botterill in a statement. “He gives us depth down the middle and has the ability to produce offensively. He’s a player that can be trusted on the defensive side of the puck, especially on the penalty kill.”
Those on social media whose initial reaction to the trade was “Meh” should consult Wild blog HockeyWilderness.com, which headlined a story, “Wild Shouldn’t Trade Frederick Gaudreau This Offseason.” Their reasoning: “Gaudreau is a reasonably consistent depth scorer who plays center, stays out of the box, and has a cost-effective contract until 2027-28. The Wild would be interested in that type of player if he weren’t already on the team.” He collected only eight PIMs all season.
Downsides? He not big (6-0, 184) and generally received negative reviews (zero points) in Minnesota’s 1st round exit from this year’s playoffs.
Another important part of Freddy Gaudreau’s story will appeal to the progressive Seattle community. “It’s that opportunity to spread inclusion,” he’s said. The Quebec native’s nephew, Noah, has Down’s syndrome, leading Gaudreau to become active with the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota. He also participates in the Wild Hockey Without Limits Camp, which focuses on diversity and inclusion.
“I think it’s so cool to see all different types of hockey,” Gaudreau told the Star-Tribune. The camp offers opportunities for blind hockey, deaf/hard of hearing hockey, sled hockey and Minnesota Special Hockey. “That’s the beauty of it, is the game (uniting) everybody.”
His own story is also one of perseverance. Freddy wasn’t drafted. After reaching the NHL with Nashville anyway – his first three NHL goals came for the Predators in the 2017 Stanley Cup Final against Pittsburgh – he spent the entire 2019-20 season in the AHL. “I just try to do my job every day and whatever happens, happens,” Gaudreau said.
Returning to the big leagues wasn’t only a matter of improved skills, but also learning “more calm on the ice instead of being more stressed.” One example of his chill was not minding when the Predators placed him in a less-than-ideal spot in the dressing room. “For the stall, I mean, I could be sitting on the floor and I would take it,” he said to NHLPA.com. “I’m just happy to be here. I don’t really care about the stall, to be honest.”