It's almost become conventional wisdom that if and/or when Dean Evason gets a new head coaching gig in the NHL, his new team will come calling for Freddy Gaudreau. Freddy may or may not waive his 10-team no-trade clause (I think he would), and the Wild may or may not wish to part with him (I think they would). Regardless, I'm comfortable with Freddy sticking around; most of my issues with him have stemmed from his deployment rather than his ability.
This season was BAD though, both physically and mentally for him. (Russo's article from 2 days ago can be found here.)
So here are the teams that have, or may have, coaching vacancies which Dean might fill, as well as a guess who could come back in a trade for Freddy Gaudreau.
1) The Buffalo Sabres – He's among the names from Matthew Fairburn's The Athletic article. There are obviously potential coaches with greater success to their name. But let's say this works. I'd suggest the Wild offer to take…Jordan Greenway. Been there, done that, you might say. Makes $3 million compared to Freddy's $2.1 million, you might also correctly say. I say he's big (still) which was something missing from the Wild's lineup late in the season. He's a goofball that the team got along with (sleeping habits? NOT SO MUCH). But also, he's a UFA after next season. As long as Guerin can keep the extension gun holstered, the Wild would have that roster open up after this season and not have Freddy's $2.1 million hanging out for another 3 seasons. (Also, his 10 goals doubled up Freddy, past chemistry with Moose and Ek, you can break out your GREEF gear again, etc.)
2) The Los Angeles Kings – They may decide anti-hockey is not the way to go. I'm not sure Kevin Fiala would be a fan of that hiring, and for that reason they may choose to avoid it. BUT if the Kings did bring in Evason (checks roster) they could acquire promising young forward F. Considerations. (Seriously, everyone on that roster is either too young and full of promise, worth the deals and term, or Pierre Luc-Dubois. Ew)
3) The New Jersey Devils – I'm trying to stick to "hockey trades", so here I'll go with…Curtis Lazar? The Wild would save money on the deal, and get a similar but slightly beefier player. I think Freddy's got more skill, and Lazar has another season left at $1,000,000. He could slot in on the fourth line.
4) The Ottawa Senators – The only thing I can look at that roster and say "might be acquirable" is Jakob Chychrun. Not for Freddy straight up, of course. Hahahaha, no. But a package with Freddy? I think a 2nd round pick plus a defensive prospect might do it (Hunt/Peart/Lambos)? Mind you, this ONLY works if Dean is the head coach and the GM is trying to accommodate him. Otherwise it's lunacy. Not to mention Chychrun is an impending UFA with a 10-team NTC. Ehhhhhhhhhhhh.
5) The St. Louis Blues – Um. I thought about checking their blueline out but apparently they are almost all over 30 with NTCs. Freddy may be an upgrade over impending UFA Kasperi Kapanen when healthy and in the right mindset. I think a deal with St. Louis doesn't require much.
Ultimately, freeing up the lineup spot and the 4 years of $2.1 million is a bigger benefit for the Wild than getting whatever assets they may get.
4 comments
I get your logic with the Greenway trade, but please no. Freddy has been poor this year, but at least he tries. Greenway is so unbelievably lazy on the ice it was really hard to watch. I think Freddy will have a bounce back next year, time to sort his head out from Dean going, settle as a new dad and recover from his injury. Won’t be world class but he’ll be fine as a 4th line centre.
I’ve admittedly been more bullish on Gaudreau than most others; he clearly wasn’t right and I suspect it was injury related this season.
That being said, Gaudreau wouldn’t fetch anything in a trade. His contract is at best a neutral asset at current, so he’d either be a dump or future considerations or a throw away piece as a part of a larger deal.
I’m OK giving him one more season. He gives us lineup depth if our prospect pool needs more time in Iowa or injuries occur. He is intelligent defensively and if we can get even that 10 goal / 20 apple offense again he will be fine.
Last, folks should know he has a 15 team no trade list. We aren’t handcuffed to him.
Evason signs with Buffalo. Gaudreau for Krebs.
It would be funny for Dean to end up in LA and get reunited with Kevin Fiala, and then be stuck with PLD. God that would be funny to watch him scream at that guy.