By Tony Abbott -
Since Dean Evason's name started being floated as a potential coach for a team other than the Minnesota Wild, a free-floating fantasy in the fanbase has been the potential to offload the Freddy Gaudreau contract onto Dean-o's new team. It makes sense. Evason and Gaudreau go back to their days with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, and Evason undoubtedly played a huge role in attracting the forward to Minnesota.
It's also reasonable to assume that Evason's trust in "Freddy Hockey" had more than a bit to do with the five-year contract Minnesota inked Gaudreau to in April 2023. The Wild brass would never admit it, but they're likely dealing with some buyer's remorse after Gaudreau fell from a 19-goal, 38-point season to just five goals and 15 points last year. With four years remaining on the deal, a tight cap situation, and the need to clear space for prospects, Bill Guerin might have been itching for Evason to land somewhere, anywhere, where he could get Evason at the other end of a trade call.
If so, Guerin got that exact opening on Monday. The Columbus Blue Jackets announced that Evason is their head coach. If there was an opportunity to strike with moving the Gaudreau contract, it's now.
Or is it?
Evason can pound the table for Gaudreau, of course. However, Columbus named Evason the coach, not the GM. That'd be Don Waddell, a long-time executive who recently helmed the Carolina Hurricanes' front office. If there's a road to off-loading Gaudreau's contract, it'll have to go through Waddell.
Presumably, Waddell can see the same things that Wild fans see. There aren't many secrets in the NHL, after all. In 2021-22 and 2022-23, Gaudreau was elevated into a top-six forward role, playing with the likes of Kevin Fiala and Matt Boldy. That's where he enjoyed his high-scoring seasons, with 44 points in 2021-22 and 38 points the following year.
Take away two minutes per game, then put him in a third-or-fourth-line role with the likes of Marcus Foligno, Patrick Maroon, and Marcus Johansson, and that took a big chunk out of Gaudreau's production. Gaudreau must have top-six minutes and teammate support to reach those heights the Wild bought in on.
The Wild's top-six spots aren't quite spoken for yet, but prospects like Liam Öhgren, Marat Khusnutdinov, or perhaps even Riley Heidt may block out Gaudreau from such a role as soon as this season. Is there a similar spot in Columbus?
Probably not. Tha Jackeeeets signed Sean Monahan to a long-term deal this offseason, hoping that Johnny Gaudreau's former linemate can re-ignite their chemistry. Beyond that duo up top, the Blue Jackets have a young cast that includes Kirill Marchenko (23 goals last season), Adam Fantilli (27 points in 49 games as a rookie), Kent Johnson (No. 5 overall in 2021), and perhaps even top 2024 pick Cayden Lindstrom (No. 4). Technically, they still have Patrik Laine, who they haven't been able to trade.
Where does "Freddy Hockey" fit in there? Probably kicking it in a third-line role with someone like an old Boone Jenner. Is that the place Gaudreau will thrive, even in Evason's system? Remember, Evason likes his bottom-six to bang down low and get hammered. The things Gaudreau does well, primarily as a puck-carrier in transition, aren't suited to the heavy-forechecking game Evason looks for in his depth players. Gaudreau might be better suited to a top-six role in an Evason system.
And while Evason is loyal to his guys, his last small stretch with Gaudreau showed those limitations. Playing in that bottom-six role, Gaudreau registered zero points in nine games before Evason's dismissal, only scoring his first goal of the year in the first game under new coach John Hynes. Gaudreau apologized to Evason after his firing, but Evason assured his player there were no hard feelings.
"I couldn't have been happier to see Gauds' face when [Maroon] grabbed him after his goal," Evason said of his first tally of the season. Are those warm feelings enough to get Evason to pound the table hard enough to bring Gaudreau into Columbus and get Waddell to commit to him for the next four years?
Gaudreau wouldn't be just an Evason commitment. Waddell would have some ownership in this, too, and if Evason doesn't work out in Columbus, Waddell could easily find himself holding the bag.
As of March 30, 2023, the average lifespan of a Columbus Blue Jackets head coach was 2.05 years. You will note that Columbus has fired two head coaches (Brad Larsen on April 15, 2023, and Pascal Vincent on June 17, 2024), with a third (Mike Babcock) "resigning" between them. Hockey Wilderness wishes Evason the best of luck, but that history doesn't look great. Waddell will have to want Gaudreau, even if he's independent of Evason.
Make no mistake, Evason landing a coaching gig makes getting out from Gaudreau's contract a much more realistic possibility than on Sunday. But it probably never was going to be as easy as "Dean finds a job, Dean gets Freddy." There might be a way to reunite the two (especially if Minnesota retains salary). Still, Wild fans should also prepare themselves for the possibility of Gaudreau lining up against Evason's Blue Jackets this year.
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