With the NHL Draft this weekend and free agency opening next week, there is an expectation that the Minnesota Wild roster could soon look notably different than was bounced out of the playoffs in six games this spring.
That potential transformation started Thursday when general manager Bill Guerin sent veteran forward Freddy Gaudreau to the Seattle Kraken for a 4th-round pick in this weekend’s NH: Draft.
It was likely a move to free up $2.1 million from next season’s payroll more than anything. Gaudreau, who turned 32 on the day Vegas ended the Wild’s season, was one of the rare players who appeared in all 82 regular season games, in a year where injuries came fast and furious. His 18 goals, while playing primarily in a 2nd- or 3rd-line role, were one shy of Gaudreau’s career best, although he appeared in all six playoff games without recording a point.
In exchange, Minnesota receives the 102nd overall selection, giving the Wild five picks when Rounds 2-7 are announced. They do not have a first-rounder, and are on the clock to pick 52nd overall in the second round on Saturday morning.
Well-liked in the locker room and among the Minnesota fan base, Gaudreau spent four years with the Wild having previously played three years for Nashville and one for Pittsburgh. In 2023 he signed a five-year contract extension worth $2.1 million per season and has three years remaining on that deal.
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