Cutter Gauthier Is Out on Philadelphia as the Team Returns the Favor
On Monday night, Jan. 8, the Philadelphia Flyers announced that they were trading their 2022 first round draft pick, Cutter Gauthier, to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second round pick.
This move came after newly surfaced reports saying that Cutter Gauthier did not want to take his talents to Philadelphia. Flyers General Manager, Danny Briere, mentioned that Gauthier told the organization over the summer that he didn’t want to play for the team. Although Gauthier was having a very impressive World Junior’s performance with 12 points in seven games, he was also ignoring the front office’s attempts at contacting him.
The Flyers finally ended the drama between both sides and traded him to the Ducks, with a very nice return on their end.
Image Credit: NHL.com
Jamie Drysdale is playing in his fourth season in the NHL, while being a very productive player. Although Drysdale has an injury history, he has still proved that he is a great offensive defenseman and one of the more promising young stars in the league. Philadelphia needed defensive scoring, and that is exactly what they are getting out of this deal, along with a second round pick. On the other side, Anaheim gets a promising prospect in Gauthier. He has yet to play a game in the NHL, but has shown that he has a lot of talent with the USA World Juniors team, as well as, Boston College. He can be a big piece of the puzzle for a young and rebuilding organization.
Flyers head coach, John Tortorella, was asked about Cutter Gauthier’s decision to not want to play for the team after their previous game, as he voiced his own opinion.
“Then we don’t want you. I don’t know Cutter from a hole in the wall. I’m not too interested in talking about him. I’d rather talk about Jamie, he’s the guy that’s coming here.”
Drysdale is now skating for the Philadelphia Flyers in practice, and he seems to be all smiles with the team.
Image Credit: Philadelphia Flyers Instagram
While it is still unknown as to which team “won” the trade between both sides, one thing is for sure; Gauthier’s first game in Philadelphia is going to be must-see television.