The Nashville Predators have officially announced that they have signed Frédérick Gaudreau to a new three-year contract. The details of the contract are such that the first two-years of the deal are on a two-way contract before bumping up to a one-way NHL contract for the 2019-20 season. He will make $650,000 (NHL) and $70,000 (AHL)  from the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons before earning $700,000 once the deal becomes a one-way NHL contract.

Press Release via Nashville Predators:

Nashville, Tenn. (July 17, 2017) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced Monday that the club has signed forward Frederick Gaudreau to a three-year contract. The contract is a two-way deal in 2017-18 and 2018-19, worth $650,000 at the NHL level and $70,000 at the AHL level. The contract then becomes a one-way deal in 2019-20 worth $700,000.

Gaudreau, 24 (5/1/93), made his NHL debut on Oct. 22, 2016, and skated in nine regular-season contests for the Predators in 2016-17, recording one assist. The Bromont, Quebec, native then appeared in eight postseason outings for Nashville, beginning in the Western Conference Final against Anaheim and continuing into the Stanley Cup Final versus Pittsburgh where he scored three goals in the first four games of the Final.

Undrafted, Gaudreau originally signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Predators on Jan. 5, 2016, after entering the organization in 2014-15, splitting time with Cincinnati of the ECHL and Milwaukee of the AHL. The 6-foot, 179-pound forward posted 25 goals and 48 points in 66 games with the Admirals in 2016-17 before he was recalled to Nashville for the postseason run.

Gaudreau enjoyed a three-season stint in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League which saw him amass 134 points (50g-84a) in 195 games with Shawinigan and Drummondville, winning the 2012 Memorial Cup with the Cataractes and earning the 2014 Frank J. Selke Trophy as the QMJHL’s most sportsmanlike player with the Voltigeurs.

He was named a 2016 AHL All-Star and earned AHL Player of the Week Honors for the week ending Feb. 5, 2017.

Gaudreau’s story might be one of the most well documented ones we’ve had the opportunity to cover here at Admirals Roundtable. It’s just that good.

He arrived within the organization 16 June, 2014 on an AHL contract with the Milwaukee Admirals. He would spend a good amount of time either as a healthy scratch or in the ECHL with the Cincinnati Cyclones during his first pro playing season in 2014-15. He was a healthy scratch on opening night of the 2015-16 season but would then play every single game moving forward en route to a breakout season that put him in the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic and then on the Predators radar with an entry level contract. He would make good on that by continuing to excel and would make his NHL debut during the 2016-17 season before making the ultimate splash on the ultimate stage during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals.

What makes this deal a steal for the Predators is that Gaudreau is the type of player whose best quality is a relentless work rate. When he first turned up to Milwaukee his skill set on defense was incredibly polished and he was a tremendous penalty killer upon arrival. He was easily flexible between playing on the wing or at his more natural position down the middle at center. Now, combined with his quality defensive attributes, it is his offensive ability that is shining.

Gaudreau scored 18 points (9 goals, 9 assists) in a combined 57 games of work between the AHL and ECHL in his first pro season in 2014-15. He followed that up with 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 75 games during 2015-16. And 48 points (25 goals, 23 assists) in 66 games during the 2016-17 season while splitting time in the AHL and NHL. He is getting better and better as well as getting comfortable within the NHL spotlight where he scored 3 goals in the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

The lone question that should come now is whether or not Gaudreau earning a brand new contract will allow him to ditch his rookie number of #32 to his more familiar #89 that he has worn with Drummondville (QMJHL) and here in Milwaukee (AHL).

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