Kraken’s Freddy Gaudreau to miss 4-6 weeks with upper-body injury

The Seattle Kraken announced Saturday that forward Freddy Gaudreau will be out four-to-six weeks with an upper-body injury.

After leaving Thursday’s game against the Ottawa Senators early, the team announced Friday that Gaudreau had been placed on Injured Reserve (IR). The team also recalled John Hayden from the Coachella Valley Firebirds, their American Hockey League affiliate.

In four games this season, Gaudreau has one assist. He was acquired by the Kraken last June in a trade with the Minnesota Wild.

The 32-year-old scored 18 goals and 19 assists for 37 points in 82 regular-season games with the Wild last season. In six playoff games, he was held scoreless. 

Now in his ninth NHL season, Gaudreau, a native of Bromont, Que., has 61 goals and 92 assists for 153 points in 414 career regular-season games with the Kraken, Wild, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators.

He’s also appeared in 32 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, scoring eight goals and two assists for 10 points. 

Gaudreau has played six seasons in the American Hockey League, scoring 78 goals and 98 assists for 176 points in 286 career regular-season games. 

An undrafted free agent, Gaudreau spent three seasons in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League with the Shawinigan Cataractes and Drummondville Voltigeurs. During those three seasons, he scored 50 goals and 84 assists for 134 points in 195 career regular-season games. In 19 QMJHL playoff games, he scored 11 goals and four assists for 15 points.

Seattle is north of the border as they will face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night, with puck drop at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The Kraken then head to the City of Brotherly Love to face the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.