C Cutter Gauthier (2022, 5th, PHI; traded to ANA)

[GunnarStahl]

Hopefully he can translate. We are still frustrated with Tippett.

How is Tippett's physical presence? does he throw hits? hard to knock off the puck?

 

[Kshahdoo]

How is Tippett's physical presence? does he throw hits? hard to knock off the puck?

He's ok in everything, but thinking the game the right way. He isn't as dumb as, say, Gurianov was, but his IQ isn't NHL level. His tools are great, though, so he plays in the NHL and even scores some goals.

I think with right linemates he can be effective enough. If Flyers had a good center to add to Tippett and Michkov, then it could be an interesting line. Alas, just Michkov isn't enough for the line to be effective, because Couturier is a shadow of himself prime. A very witherd shadow...

 

[FlyguyOX]

Cutter has as many points as Tippett as a rookie playing 14 minutes a night. The idea that he might be as good as Tippett one day is a bit silly - he’s as good as him now at 21yo.

He should be a regular goal scorer in the NHL, especially under a half decent coach.

Points don't tell the whole story. This is false.

 

[FlyguyOX]

How is Tippett's physical presence? does he throw hits? hard to knock off the puck?

He doesn't throw hits but he is hard to knock off the puck. Doesn't go out of his way to be physical, but has made a conscious effort to add the power move to the net to his arsenal.

 

[LuGBuG]

Points don't tell the whole story. This is false.

Well how can we be sure you know the full story when you couldn’t take the bias glasses off saying Cutter should be in the A?

 

[thedjpd]

I think Cutter has been better at playmaking/creating than I thought he'd be seeing him in college last year. And his all around game is pretty advanced, he looks really good defensively for a youngster. He's certainly far, far ahead of where Tippett was as a 21 year old in just about every category outside of skating.

He's got 12 points in 13 games now since the 4 Nations, and is a +3 on a minus team. He's coming along very nicely.

All maybe true, but it’s important to note that

1) All Flyers scoring numbers are very much lower in raw totals due to their absolutely historical bad power play running 3 years straight

2) Not a single winger has played with too 6 offensively oriented center in that same time period

Tippett has also had runs where he goes PPG; then cold for 15 games. So curious to see how it pans out.

 

[HanSolo]

All maybe true, but it’s important to note that

1) All Flyers scoring numbers are very much lower in raw totals due to their absolutely historical bad power play running 3 years straight

2) Not a single winger has played with too 6 offensively oriented center in that same time period

Tippett has also had runs where he goes PPG; then cold for 15 games. So curious to see how it pans out.

Not that you were making the direct comparison but Anaheim is struggling from a lot of the same issues

GPG

Phi: 23rd 2.75
Ana: 27th 2.63

PP%

Phi: 30th: 14.7%
Ana: 31st: 12.9%

Cutter spent significant chunks of the season playing with suboptimal linemates and gets less playing time than the Carlsson and Terry lines even now.

 

[FiveTacos]

hmmm, I suppose I never knew Tippett was so fast, was that a trait he developed post draft?

I believe he was considered an elite skater even at the draft.

Hopefully he can translate. We are still frustrated with Tippett.

It's just a matter of expectations though. His likelihood of ever being a star were very low ... But even as it stands he's a well above average 10oa pick.

Not that you were making the direct comparison but Anaheim is struggling from a lot of the same issues

GPG

Phi: 23rd 2.75
Ana: 27th 2.63

PP%

Phi: 30th: 14.7%
Ana: 31st: 12.9%

Cutter spent significant chunks of the season playing with suboptimal linemates and gets less playing time than the Carlsson and Terry lines even now.

I mean truthfully, the Ducks don't have anything BUT suboptimal linemates to play any of the youngsters with, outside of Terry. He's literally the only true top 6 forward on the roster, and Cronin has mostly played him with Vatrano and Strome. Several young players have top 6 talent, but that's not the same.

 

[HanSolo]

I believe he was considered an elite skater even at the draft.



It's just a matter of expectations though. His likelihood of ever being a star were very low ... But even as it stands he's a well above average 10oa pick.



I mean truthfully, the Ducks don't have anything BUT suboptimal linemates to play any of the youngsters with, outside of Terry. He's literally the only true top 6 forward on the roster, and Cronin has mostly played him with Vatrano and Strome. Several young players have top 6 talent, but that's not the same.

True. And fair. Terry is what I'd call a complimentary first liner at his absolute best. As in you could slot him next to a MacKinnon or McDavid and not make the line suffer. But you're not going to credit Terry with being the key to that line's success. He's good in his own right but doesn't really have the effect of making his linemates significantly better.

Vatrano and Strome are like average second liners and would likely be third liners on contending teams depending on their lineup needs.

Zegras you can call a veteran at 23 years old but Cronin has all but choked the dynamism and creativity out of his game. Past them it's kids or our shit tier fourth line that could all be replaced with minimal effort.

I think what I find impressive about Cutter is he's managed to produce 3 points less than Strome and 7 fewer points than Vatrano while playing much fewer minutes and especially fewer powerplay minutes (though Anaheim's PP in general is busted). I think he's about on their level right now at 20 years old and as a rookie. He could be substantially better than them as early as next year.

 

[mphmiles]

Lots to like about his first year.

-Has some of the better possession numbers on the team at 5v5. The game clearly isn’t too fast for him like it is a lot of young players
-After some really poor puck luck to start the year (He was one of the unluckiest shooters, statistically, in the league the first part of the year) the goals and points have started to come
-Skating stats are awesome. Very fast for a guy his size.

I think he has all the makings of a 70 point 30 goal forward that’s good both ways.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

Points don't tell the whole story. This is false.

I agree with you that points don't tell the whole story - Cutter has been better, maybe even significantly so, than his numbers suggest. Again, as a rookie. His shot is really impressive but I've been more impressed by his positioning, his forechecking, and his play off of the puck.

His skill set will only improve as he adjusts the pace of NHL defensemen and the skill of NHL goalies.

 

[LuGBuG]

I agree with you that points don't tell the whole story - Cutter has been better, maybe even significantly so, than his numbers suggest. Again, as a rookie. His shot is really impressive but I've been more impressed by his positioning, his forechecking, and his play off of the puck.

His skill set will only improve as he adjusts the pace of NHL defensemen and the skill of NHL goalies.

Wasting your time with that poster. He has no clue what he’s talking about and talks in circles. Clearly wasn’t watching and just looking at numbers (which really were actually solid as well) thinking he needed AHL time. Yet also now saying numbers don’t tell the story. It’s getting comically embarrassing. Here is his quote from another thread.

“Let's see what Gauthier's next contract looks like, because right now he's looking like he could've used the AHL time. He's only hurting his next contract with his current numbers.”

 

[FiveTacos]

True. And fair. Terry is what I'd call a complimentary first liner at his absolute best.

I think on a good team he could be the 3rd best forward. No doubt though, his numbers over the last few years have been hampered by playing with essentially 3rd liners and an awful PP unit.

It's a tough situation for all their young guys, as they're all still trying to establish themselves on the NHL level, but have no veteran impact linemates to make it easier. The best players they get to play with are guys also trying to learn the pro game.

 

[HanSolo]

I think on a good team he could be the 3rd best forward. No doubt though, his numbers over the last few years have been hampered by playing with essentially 3rd liners and an awful PP unit.

It's a tough situation for all their young guys, as they're all still trying to establish themselves on the NHL level, but have no veteran impact linemates to make it easier. The best players they get to play with are guys also trying to learn the pro game.

Playing for a coach whose philosophy is "we focus on defense first and foremost, offensive talent will come through naturally." and yet the defense still sucks because the structure being employed is not drilled properly or not suited for this lineup or both.