An optimist reads this Philadelphia Flyers' headline as the story. But at the moment, Cutter Gauthier's not wanting to play for the organization is naturally the second sentence lede. That makes sense, since the Flyers first-round pick (fifth overall) in the 2022 National Hockey League Draft initially wanted to play for the rebuilding franchise.
Something changed since last summer's National Hockey League Entry draft, which I was fortunate to attend at the Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec. So, Gauthier, who is at Boston College and turns 20 on January 19, was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round draft pick.
The right-handed shot D-man, who will turn 22 in April, is in his fourth season in the League, though a torn labrum caused him only to play eight games last season. He has played in 10 contests this season and is believed to be healthy.
Flyers President Keith Jones and General Manager Daniel Briere spoke about their inability to contact Gauthier or his family, which led to the trade of this forward. That term is used because he's played left wing and center, and there was debate as to which position was best.
Gauthier's recent terrific performance for Team USA at the World Junior Championships caused his value to peak, according to Briere.
So, the Flyers could not keep a young scorer, which is one of this rebuilding team's needs. But Philadelphia was able to obtain a young defenseman, who is projected to be part of the blue-line core, and eventually, whoever is selected with the potentially favorable draft selection, unless that asset becomes part of a future trade.
The following information is courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers Communications Staff:
Drysdale, 21 (4/8/02), was selected by the Ducks in the first round, sixth overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft. He owns five points (1-4=5) in 10 games with Anaheim this season. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound native of Toronto, Ontario, has 45 points (8- 37=45) in 123 games in four seasons with the Ducks (2020-24). He missed majority of the 2022-23 campaign due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder. The right-shot blueliner set career highs in goals (4), assists (28) and points (32) in 81 games during the 2021-22 season. He ranked second among all NHL rookie defensemen in 2021-22 in points, assists, shots (137) and games while he became one of four rookie defensemen in Ducks history to record 30-or-more points. He tallied two points (1-1=2) in his NHL debut on March 18, 2021 vs. ARI. He became the third defenseman in NHL history to record multiple points in his NHL debut at age 18-or-younger while his first NHL goal marked only the fourth time in NHL history an 18-year-old scored a goal in his NHL debut.
Drysdale skated in two seasons with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and collected 87 points (16- 71=87) in 112 career games (2018-20). He was named to the 2018-19 OHL First All-Rookie Team and to the 2019-20 OHL First Team All-Star. He has represented Canada at the 2020 (gold) and 2021 (silver) World Junior Championship and became the youngest defenseman since 2001 to appear in a World Junior Championship for Canada in 2020 (Jay Bouwmeester, 17 years, 3 months).
Gauthier was selected by the Flyers in the first round, fifth overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft and has yet to make his NHL debut. He has spent the last two seasons with Boston College (2022-24)
