Frédérick Gaudreau Bio
Frédérick Gaudreau is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays centre for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on May 1, 1993, in Bromont, Quebec, he has built a reputation as a reliable two-way forward, scoring key goals in high-pressure moments throughout his career. After beginning his professional journey in 2014, Gaudreau has suited up for the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota Wild organizations before joining the Kraken in 2025.
Standing 183 cm tall and weighing 83 kg, Gaudreau is known for his steady play, hockey sense, and knack for stepping up in the postseason. His journey from undrafted walk-on to Stanley Cup hero highlights his perseverance and quiet professionalism.
Early Life and Background
Frédérick Gaudreau was born on May 1, 1993, in Bromont, Quebec, Canada, the youngest child of Jean-Pierre Gaudreau and France Desrosiers. Growing up in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec, he was introduced to hockey at a young age and developed his game in local minor programs. As a youth, he played in the 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Missisquoi, Quebec, an experience that helped spark his passion for the sport.
While playing midget hockey in the QMAAA with the Magog Cantonniers, Gaudreau suffered a severe wrist injury that briefly took him off the radar of junior scouts. The setback proved to be only temporary. A rule change allowing 17-year-olds to continue playing midget ice hockey gave him additional time to recover and showcase his abilities.
Outside of hockey, Gaudreau attended Cégep de Shawinigan while playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. At one point, he drove roughly two hours from Drummondville to Shawinigan in order to complete his studies, demonstrating the same commitment to his education that he brings to the rink.
Path to Professional Hockey
Gaudreau was chosen by the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League as a walk-on in 2011, a humble beginning for a player who would later shine on hockey’s biggest stage. In his rookie season with the Cataractes, he played in 64 games as the team won the 2012 Memorial Cup, providing him with an early taste of championship success.
Two years later, in 2014, he was named the 57th captain in franchise history, reflecting the respect he had earned from coaches and teammates. His time as captain was short-lived, however, as he was traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs in exchange for a first-round pick in 2015, a second-round pick in 2014, and Antoine Kilanowski.
His only season with the Voltigeurs proved to be successful. Gaudreau earned the Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy as the QMJHL’s most sportsmanlike player, and his play attracted interest from at least four professional teams. Despite going undrafted by the NHL, his development path set the stage for a long professional career.
Frédérick Gaudreau Career
Early Career (2014–2016)
Undrafted, Frédérick Gaudreau signed his first professional contract with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League on June 12, 2014. In the 2014–15 season, he contributed 11 points in 43 games and was also loaned for 14 games to the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones, where he produced 5 goals. On May 21, 2015, the Admirals extended him for an additional season.
In the middle of a break-out 2015–16 season with Milwaukee, Gaudreau signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on January 6, 2016. He finished that year placing third on the Admirals in scoring with new professional highs of 15 goals and 42 points in 75 games, solidifying his reputation as a depth forward ready for the NHL.
Nashville Predators Breakthrough (2016–2020)
After attending the Predators’ training camp, Gaudreau was reassigned to Milwaukee to begin the 2016–17 season. On October 22, 2016, he received his first NHL recall to the Predators after the team suffered a bout of food poisoning, and he made his NHL debut that night in a 5–1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins before being returned to the Admirals.
His most memorable moment came during the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Anaheim Ducks, Gaudreau made his playoff debut after injuries to Ryan Johansen and Mike Fisher required his presence in the lineup. He then scored the winning goal in the Predators’ 5–1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 3 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals. In Game 4, he again scored the game winner as Nashville defeated the Penguins 4–1 to even the series at two games apiece. With those efforts, Gaudreau became the first player since Johnny Harms of the 1943–44 Chicago Black Hawks to score his first three career NHL goals in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2020–2021)
After six seasons within the Predators organization, Gaudreau left as a free agent and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 10, 2020. He began the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 season with the AHL affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before being recalled and inserted into the NHL lineup, where he set career highs with 8 assists and 10 points in just 19 games.
Gaudreau remained a fixture in the playoffs, leading the Penguins in plus-minus at plus-3 while recording 1 goal and 3 points through 6 games. Although his time in Pittsburgh was brief, he proved he could produce offensively in a top role.
Minnesota Wild Era (2021–2025)
As a free agent at the conclusion of his Penguins contract, Gaudreau was rewarded with a two-year, $2.4 million contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 28, 2021. He was featured in a “Becoming Wild” video about off-season training released by the team on November 9, 2021, which highlighted his dedication to conditioning and craft.
In 2023, he signed a five-year, $10.5 million contract with a $2.1 million average annual value and a 15-team modified no-trade clause. During the 2022–23 season, he scored a career-high 19 goals. The following campaign was more difficult: he played most of the 2023–24 season with rib-cage injuries after an open-ice hit on October 14 and finished with 5 goals and 10 assists in 67 games, ending the year with a team-worst plus-minus of minus-23 as the Wild missed the playoffs for only the second time since 2012.
Seattle Kraken Era (2025–Present)
Following the 2024–25 season, his fourth with the Wild, Gaudreau was traded to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick on June 26, 2025. The move gave him a fresh start on the West Coast and a chance to contribute to a young, rising Kraken roster in 2025–26.
Frédérick Gaudreau Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Frédérick Gaudreau was raised by his father, Jean-Pierre Gaudreau, and his mother, France Desrosiers, in Bromont, Quebec, where he remains closely connected to his Quebec roots and family.
2025 Season Performance
Gaudreau’s 2024–25 season wrapped up his fourth year with the Minnesota Wild before his June 26, 2025 trade to the Seattle Kraken. The campaign provided him with a chance to reset and refocus before joining a new organization for the 2025–26 season.
Now with the Kraken, Gaudreau is expected to slot into a middle-six centre role, bringing his reliable two-way game and playoff experience to a club that continues to build around a young core. His five-year contract, signed in 2023 and running through 2028, gives him long-term security as he begins this new chapter.
As the 2025–26 season unfolds, Gaudreau’s poise, faceoff ability, and history of producing key goals will be central to his outlook in Seattle. His track record of stepping up under pressure suggests he can be a stabilizing presence for the Kraken.