SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has agreed to terms with forward Frederick Gaudreau (FREHD-uhr-ihk goo-DROH) on a two-year, $2.4 million contract ($1.2 million AAV).
Gaudreau, 28 (5/1/93), recorded 10 points (2-8=10) and a plus-10 rating in 19 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. He set career highs in points, assists and plus/minus rating and won 87-of-162 face-offs taken (53.7%). The 6-foot, 179-pound native of Bromont, Que., added three points (1-2=3) in six Stanley Cup Playoff contests and led the team with a plus-3 rating. Gaudreau also tallied four points (1-3=4) and 16 shots on goal in six games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2020-21. He recorded 28 points (11-17=28) in 42 games with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) in 2019-20.
He owns 18 points (5-13=18) and a plus-12 rating in 103 career NHL games with Nashville and Pittsburgh (2016-19, 2020-21). Gaudreau has collected six points (4-2=6) and a plus-5 rating in 14 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests. He scored his first three Stanley Cup Playoff goals during the 2017 Stanley Cup Final versus the Penguins, which included the game-winning goals in Games 3 and 4. Gaudreau became the first player since Johnny Harms of the Chicago Blackhawks in 1944 to score his first three career NHL goals in a Stanley Cup Final. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 22, 2016 vs. Pittsburgh and recorded his first career NHL regular season goal on Nov. 11, 2018 vs. St. Louis. Gaudreau was originally signed to an AHL contract by Milwaukee on June 12, 2014.
He collected 176 points (78-98=176) in 286 career AHL contests with Milwaukee and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (2014-18, 2019-21) and was named to the 2016 AHL All-Star Game. Gaudreau recorded 134 points (50-84=134) in 195 games during three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with Shawinigan and Drummondville (2011-14). He won the 2012 Memorial Cup with the Cataractes and was named the QMJHL Most Sportsmanlike Player in 2013-14, winning the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy.
