When Pittsburgh Penguins turned to Frederick Gaudreau last month, it partly was out of desperation and lack of other options.
When the Penguins next deploy Gaudreau in a game, it will be for an entirely different reason.
“He’s really had a positive impact on the games that he’s been in,” coach Mike Sullivan said, “and that really what’s earned him the opportunities that he has moving forward.”
Gaudreau appears poised for a return to game action from a lower-body injury that has kept him out since April 11. Gaudreau has been skating with teammates, and he was a full-contact participant Wednesday during practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry.
More telling, Gaudreau skated between Colton Sceviour and Evan Rodrigues on what was the fourth line, a strong indication not only is he ready for a return but that Sullivan would dress him as one of the team’s 12 forwards — perhaps as early as Thursday for the start of a two-game series at the Washington Capitals.
“He’s earned the opportunity to be in the lineup,” Sullivan said. “When he’s been in the lineup, he’s made a positive impact on the game.
“And the biggest thing that jumps out to me is his compete level. He’s a guy that brings a ton of urgency and ton of energy to the games when he’s playing, and I think that passion for the game is contiguous.”
#Penguins have leaned on Frederick Gaudreau at a time when three of their leading penalty-killing forwards — Teddy Blueger, Mark Jankowski and Brandon Tanev — have missed time because of health-related issues. https://t.co/aCwQXSSGzK
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) March 30, 2021
Gaudreau has a goal, three assists and a plus-2 rating in 13 games for the Penguins. Some of the advanced metrics paint an even better picture of the soon-to-be 28-year-old’s play. According to naturalstattrick.com, Gaudreau ranks among the top five Penguins forwards in team shot-attempt and shots-on-goal percentage while on the ice.
Gaudreau made his team debut March 18 at the New Jersey Devils only because four of the Penguins’ top nine forwards were injured. But he kept his spot over the next 12 games on merit, even as the Penguins got healthier.
“Freddy is one of those guys who really stepped up when guys were getting hurt,” said Kasperi Kapanen, one of those then-injured forwards.
“It’s good to have those guys to come in and play well under pressure, and Freddy is really one of those guys who came in and played really good hockey for us.”
Sullivan would never admit it publicly, but Gaudreau’s strong play has to be viewed as a surprise in that he — based on the pecking order of recalls from the AHL affiliate — was buried on the organizational depth chart when the season began. Gaudreau also did not play a game in the NHL last season, unable to earn a promotion from the Nashville Predators’ AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, where he had 11 goals and 17 assists in 42 games.
Still, former Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford saw something he liked. At the time of Gaudreau’s signing, from the outside it was viewed as little more than help for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
“I think the intent was to try to create as much depth as we can at all those different positions, and Freddy was one of those guys,” Sullivan said. “As far as his performance since he’s been a Pittsburgh Penguin, I think it speaks for itself.”
#Penguins forward Frederick Gaudreau remained in the lineup for the 10th consecutive game during Tuesday’s road contest against the Rangers. https://t.co/3DwwS09AuP
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) April 7, 2021
Sullivan speaks about Gaudreau as if he’s a player who will always have a spot in his lineup. Time will tell if that’s the case after the trade addition of Jeff Carter and looming return of Evgeni Malkin.
But it does appear as if Gaudreau has moved ahead of Mark Jankowski on the center depth chart with two weeks until the Stanley Cup playoffs start.
“My mindset has always been to get better, no matter what the circumstances were,” Gaudreau said. “Try to get better in every little aspect of my game — and that hasn’t changed, that will not change. That’s my only mindset.
“I believe I am playing better hockey overall, but with that I am sure that there’s (an aspect of) just being at the right place at the right time.”
