ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 19: Frederick Gaudreau #89 of the Minnesota Wild looks on during the second period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 19, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Seattle Kraken traded for center Frederick Gaudreau from the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, in exchange for a fourth-round selection in this summer’s 2025 NHL Entry Draft, opening Friday in Los Angeles.
The addition of Gaudreau is another turn of the off-season crank by Kraken general manager Jason Botterill, who pledged an aggressive approach with roster management at the end of last season which wrapped up with the firing of head coach Dan Bylsma and a shuffle in the front office structure.
Gaudreau, 32, is another veteran center with flexibility to move to the wing, entering a crowded picture for the Kraken at either position.
“He gives us depth down the middle and has the ability to produce offensively,” said Botterill in a team statement. “He's a player that can be trusted on the defensive side of the puck, especially on the penalty kill.”
Gaudreau comes to Seattle off an 18-goal season, successfully rebounding from an injury-plagued 2023-24 campaign while playing a valuable role on the second line with the Wild. Known for a jackknife reputation up and down their lineup, he was their most used face-off option, both at even strength and on the kill, despite the latter unit finishing 30th in the NHL last season. He went scoreless in six playoff games.
He was available because of similar circumstances which brought forward Mason Marchment over in a trade from Dallas – an opportunity to shed salary. In Minnesota’s situation, they’re relieved of Gaudreau’s $2.1 million annual salary with three years remaining on his contract, opening space for free agency with a necessity to potentially extend young and talented center Marco Rossi. The move cost the Kraken only a fourth-round pick, in a draft that’s been widely-panned past the first round.
Meanwhile, it’s unclear where Gaudreau fits exactly in the Kraken lineup, aside from an obvious need on the penalty kill that’s absorbed losses in Brandon Tanev and Yanni Gourde at last season’s trade deadline. The offseason is still extremely young with the draft looming, a minefield for the trade market, and free agency opening on Tuesday, July 1. They are stocked at center with Chandler Stephenson, Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, newcomer Joe Veleno and Gaudreau, along with prospect Berkly Catton.
Moving Catton and Gaudreau over to the wing are potential options, but into a pool of experience awaits in where names like Jaden Schwartz, Jared McCann, Jordan Eberle, Eeli Tolvanen, Kakko, and Marchment are waiting.
The Kraken have $16 million of available cap space for potential upgrades, along with extensions to pending restricted free agents Kaapo Kakko and Ryker Evans.