Gaudreau played only 9:02 time-on-ice before exiting Thursday's contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning with an upper-body injury and is unlikely to play on Friday against the Florida Panthers. Gaudreau has one point (0G / 1A) in his last nine games.
Gaudreau has not played since October 24th and has now been placed retroactively on the long-term injured reserve. In six games this season, Gaudreau was held without a point while taking nine shots and racking up a -2 plus/minus rating.
Gaudreau did not travel with the team as they head to Philadelphia and is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 30-year-old forward has yet to pick up a point through five games after putting up 19 goals and 38 points in 82 games with the Wild in 2022-23. More updates and clarity should be provided on Gaudreau's health in the upcoming days.
Gaudreau played 55 games with the Predators in 2019 but played the entire 2020 season in Milwaukee (AHL) where he had 11 goals and 17 assists (28 points) in 42 games. Gaudreau is a fourth line centre at most at the NHL-level and with that role filled in Pittsburgh, he'll be heading to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) to start 2021.
Gaudreau has been in the Predators lineup for the last five games and has just three assists in 17 games with the Predators this season. His return to the AHL suggests that either Ryan Johansen or Scott Hartnell will be back in the Predators lineup on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old forward had a nice postseason for the Predators last season, picking up three goals in eight playoff games. Gaudreau has also had a nice start to his AHL season, registering four points (1G / 3A) in three games with the Admirals. He comes up to take Yannick Weber’s roster spot and could make his season debut on Tuesday.
Gaudreau played on Saturday because the Predators were missing four players due to food poisoning, but with those players set to return this week, Gaudreau has been sent back to Milwaukee. He had three blocked shots in 9:01 TOI on Saturday.
