New contract with the Wild: Frédérick Gaudreau realizes his dream

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Quebec Wild forward Frédérick Gaudreau has worked hard to achieve his dream of settling in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the new contract he recently signed with the team. Minnesota is one of the most significant milestones in this regard. 

At 29, the Bromont native signed a five-year pact worth more than $10 million . It's a nice amount, but it's not the most important thing for him.

“I couldn't ask for better than to stay here for five years,” he said Wednesday in an interview with “JiC”.

“A contract like that, everyone looks at the money, those things, but that's not what's important to me, he continued. What is important is to have been loyal to my childhood dream and to have the confidence of a team for five years. It's a dream come true a little more, so I'm extremely happy.”

Gaudreau paid tribute to his family and loved ones for their support in pursuing his dream, but he also highlighted the contribution of Wild coach Dean Evason, an important figure in his career who also helped him. directed for four years in the American League in Milwaukee.

“Dean, for sure, he was a big part of that, it started in Milwaukee,” he explained. He was even the one who sent me to the East Coast, but he still saw, deep down in me, the potential to become a very good player in the National League.”

“Through all these steps, he was there and he believed in me, for sure I owe him a lot,” he added.

Now the Wild is at the heart a tough streak against the Dallas Stars and the team was down 3-1 at the time of the interview. At the heart of the Stars' success is goaltender Jake Oettinger, a problem the Wild will need to address quickly to avoid an abrupt end.

“We lost the lead yesterday [Wednesday], and after that, the whole team plays well defensively, it becomes more difficult and he (Oettinger), he gains confidence the more the match progresses”, analyzed Gaudreau.< /p>

“He's not impossible to beat, that's for sure”, however tempered the striker, who then showed himself very cautious when it came time to discuss the work of the referees at the place of his teammate Marcus Foligno, targeted by penalties that made people talk.

“It's difficult for me to have a position, he moderated. The referees do their best, as well as me, to make the matches as fair as possible, but everything happens extremely quickly. The game goes fast, for us it's easy, we have iPads […] on TV you can see everything in slow motion, but that's not how it is on the ice. p>

“The referees have to make decisions super fast, it can't be obvious, so I'm not in a position to blame anyone. Everyone is trying to do their best,” he summed up.