Frederick Gaudreau Bio
Frédérick Gaudreau is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays the centre position for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing around 184 pounds, Gaudreau shoots right-handed and has built a reputation as a dependable two-way forward. Undrafted out of junior hockey, he has carved out a long professional career through perseverance, strong playoff performances, and steady offensive contributions at the NHL level.
Born and raised in Quebec, Gaudreau began his hockey journey in minor hockey before progressing through the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the American Hockey League. His career has included stops with the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, and Seattle Kraken, along with minor-league assignments that helped shape his development as a professional centre.
Early Life and Background
Frédérick Gaudreau was born on May 1, 1993, in Bromont, Quebec, Canada. He is the youngest child of his parents, Jean-Pierre Gaudreau, his father, and France Desrosiers, his mother. Growing up in a hockey-loving region of Quebec, Gaudreau was introduced to the sport at a young age and developed his skills in local minor hockey programs.
As a youth, Gaudreau played in the 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Missisquoi, Quebec. He later progressed to midget hockey with the Magog Cantonniers in the QMAAA, where a severe wrist injury briefly took him off the radar of junior scouts. Despite this setback, a rule change that allowed 17-year-olds to continue playing midget hockey kept his development on track.
To pursue both his education and his hockey career, Gaudreau attended Cégep de Shawinigan while playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He regularly drove two hours from Drummondville to Shawinigan to complete his studies, demonstrating the discipline and work ethic that would later define his professional career.
Path to Hockey
Gaudreau’s path to professional hockey began when he joined the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL as a walk-on in 2011. In his rookie season with the Cataractes, he appeared in 64 games and contributed to the team’s victory in the 2012 Memorial Cup, an early indicator of his ability to perform on big stages. Two years later, in 2014, he was named the 57th captain in franchise history, reflecting the leadership qualities he had developed within the program.
His time as captain of the Cataractes was brief, as he was later traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in exchange for draft picks and a player. During his only season with the Voltigeurs, Gaudreau earned the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the QMJHL’s most sportsmanlike player, an honour that highlighted his character and consistency. His strong play in Drummondville attracted interest from multiple professional teams, setting the stage for his transition to the professional ranks.
Frederick Gaudreau Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Undrafted, Gaudreau signed his first professional contract with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL on June 12, 2014. During the 2014–15 season, he contributed 11 points in 43 games with the Admirals and was also loaned for 14 games to ECHL affiliate the Cincinnati Cyclones, where he scored five goals. On May 21, 2015, the Admirals extended his contract for another season.
In the middle of a breakout 2015–16 campaign, Gaudreau signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Nashville Predators on January 6, 2016. He finished that season in the AHL, placing third on the Admirals in scoring with 15 goals and 42 points in 75 games, both professional highs at the time.
Nashville Predators Breakthrough (2016–2020)
After attending the Predators’ training camp, Gaudreau began the 2016–17 season in the AHL before receiving his first NHL recall on October 22, 2016, following a bout of food poisoning within the Nashville roster. He made his NHL debut that night in a 5–1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins and was returned to the Admirals immediately afterward.
Gaudreau’s most memorable moments with Nashville came during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. After injuries opened a spot in the lineup, he made his playoff debut in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Anaheim Ducks. He then scored the winning goal in the Predators’ 5–1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals, and repeated the feat in Game 4 with another game-winning goal in a 4–1 win. By scoring his first three career NHL goals in the Stanley Cup Finals, Gaudreau became the first player since Johnny Harms of the 1943–44 Chicago Black Hawks to accomplish that feat.
Following six seasons within the Predators organization, Gaudreau left as a free agent on October 10, 2020, signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2020–2021)
Gaudreau began the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season with the AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before being recalled to the NHL lineup. Once inserted, he set career highs with 8 assists and 10 points in just 19 games. He remained a fixture in the playoffs, leading the Penguins in plus-minus at plus-3 while recording 1 goal and 3 points through 6 postseason games.
Minnesota Wild Era (2021–2025)
After his deal with Pittsburgh expired, Gaudreau signed a two-year, $2.4 million contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 28, 2021. In 2023, he signed a five-year, $10.5 million contract extension with a $2.1 million average annual value and a modified no-trade clause, cementing his role as a core forward. During the 2022–23 season, he scored a career-high 19 goals.
Most of the 2023–24 season was interrupted by a rib-cage injury suffered on October 14 after an open-ice hit. He finished that year with 5 goals and 10 assists in 67 games and a team-worst plus-minus of minus-23, as the Wild missed the playoffs for only the second time since 2012. After his fourth season with Minnesota, Gaudreau was traded to the Seattle Kraken on June 26, 2025, in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick.
Seattle Kraken Era (2025–Present)
Gaudreau joined the Seattle Kraken following the June 2025 trade, beginning a new chapter of his career in the Pacific Division. As an experienced centre coming off a five-year contract signed in 2023, he is expected to provide scoring depth, penalty-killing reliability, and playoff experience to a young Kraken roster. His current deal runs through the 2027–28 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gaudreau is recognized as a steady two-way centre who competes hard in all three zones. His track-type strengths include strong faceoff reliability, dependable penalty killing, and timely offensive contributions, particularly during high-leverage playoff moments. His shooting and release skills were showcased during the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals, where he delivered two game-winning goals.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining milestone of Gaudreau’s career came during the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals, when his three goals in his first three career NHL games made him the first player since Johnny Harms of the 1943–44 Chicago Black Hawks to open his NHL career with goals in the Finals. Additional milestones include serving as captain of the Shawinigan Cataractes, winning the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy in the QMJHL, and contributing to the 2012 Memorial Cup championship.
Frederick Gaudreau Career Wins
Frédérick Gaudreau’s career has been defined more by consistent production and clutch playoff performances than by traditional championship wins. His most notable team triumph came in 2012, when he won the Memorial Cup with the Shawinigan Cataractes. He has not yet captured an NHL Stanley Cup title, though his play during the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals remains one of the most memorable individual playoff stretches of his career.
QMJHL and AHL Highlights
During his time in the QMJHL, Gaudreau helped the Shawinigan Cataractes capture the 2012 Memorial Cup and was later named the 57th captain in franchise history. With the Drummondville Voltigeurs, he earned the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the league’s most sportsmanlike player. In the AHL, he produced 15 goals and 42 points in 75 games during the 2015–16 season, finishing third on the Milwaukee Admirals in scoring.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his junior and AHL achievements, Gaudreau posted a career-high 19 goals with the Minnesota Wild in 2022–23 and recorded 8 assists and 10 points in 19 games during the 2020–21 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His playoff résumé includes multiple game-winning goals in the Stanley Cup Finals and strong two-way performances during Penguins postseason play.
Frederick Gaudreau Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gaudreau comes from a supportive Quebec-based family. He is the son of Jean-Pierre Gaudreau, his father, and France Desrosiers, his mother, and the youngest child in the household. His family’s encouragement and regional hockey roots helped shape his early development as a player.
Personal Life
Outside of hockey, Gaudreau pursued his education at Cégep de Shawinigan while balancing a demanding junior hockey schedule, a choice that reflected his commitment to personal growth. He maintains an active presence on social media and continues to reside primarily in North America while playing in the NHL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marks a significant transition for Frédérick Gaudreau. He began the year as a member of the Minnesota Wild, completing his fourth season with the club before being traded to the Seattle Kraken on June 26, 2025, in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick. The move ended a four-year run in Minnesota that included a 19-goal season in 2022–23 and a difficult 2023–24 campaign shortened by injury.
Joining the Kraken provides Gaudreau with a fresh opportunity to contribute to a growing franchise while remaining under contract through 2027–28. As an established centre with extensive playoff experience, he is expected to play a meaningful role in Seattle’s middle-six forward group and on special teams. His track record of timely goals and reliable two-way play should translate well to the Kraken’s up-tempo system.
Looking ahead to the 2025–26 NHL season, Gaudreau’s outlook centres on staying healthy, providing veteran leadership, and helping the Kraken compete in the competitive Pacific Division. With a long-term contract in place, his focus will be on producing consistent offence while mentoring younger players within the Seattle organization.
