The Minnesota Wild have made a significant roster move by trading center Freddy Gaudreau to the Seattle Kraken for a fourth-round pick, effectively freeing themselves from the final three years of his $2.1 million annual contract. This trade allows the Wild to create more salary cap flexibility as they pursue improvements, particularly in their center depth, which has been a focus heading into the offseason.
Gaudreau, who played 307 regular-season games for the Wild, contributed 56 goals and 134 points during his tenure. Following a challenging 2023-24 season marked by injuries, he rebounded in the recent season, tallying 18 goals and 37 points across 82 games, though he did not score in the playoffs.
With this trade, the Wild now have approximately $17.7 million in cap space, assuming several prospects make the roster for the opening night. They currently hold five draft picks for the upcoming weekend, which positions them well for making additional moves. Among possible targets, the team has reportedly expressed interest in centers like Jean-Gabriel Pageau of the New York Islanders and former Wild forward Charlie Coyle from Colorado, both of whom also have one year left on their contracts.
In addition to trade options, Minnesota is exploring free-agent choices for bottom-six center roles, including players like Sean Kuraly and Nick Bjugstad. This strategic maneuvering signals the Wild’s commitment to enhancing their lineup and addressing areas of need.
The team’s updated depth chart reflects these ongoing changes, presenting a mix of established players and promising prospects. Looking ahead, the Wild are poised to make impactful decisions that could shape the future of their season while they continue to build a competitive roster.
This proactive approach by the Wild illustrates their intent to not just navigate current challenges but also to lay the groundwork for a successful future.