Confirmed with Link: Flyers trade Cutter Gauthier to Anaheim for Jamie Drysdale and 2025 2nd round pick

[Beef Invictus]

What makes this tidbit extra amusing is that we had a guy on here who really thought that Cutter would sign an ATO to play for the Phantoms this season, so that his ELC didn't start until 24-25.

Oh shit lol good recall

 

[GapToothedWonder]

Cutter is not as good as some people think, I’ve watched tons of Gauthier including the WJC, he lacks hockey IQ big time, he seems to be confused and unable to make the right play when he has the puck on his stick, also he has a massive ego which will get checked in the NHL. His lack of IQ makes him expendable imo, his release is great but I just don’t see “it” with him, 2nd line fringe 1st line winger as his absolute peak imo. We have tons of those guys, let’s move on to Drysdale and relax man, Cutter isn’t in the same tier as like Michkov lol, if we traded Michkov I’d delete my account and forget hockey.

The character assassination 180 is going to be hilarious. All of a sudden all the flaws that have been pointed out the last 1.5 years will suddenly be real.

Shocking stuff

 

[Random Forest]

I think it's really nuts how often people knock players for seeking extra money.

Just, what? Do those people not know about money? Money is great.

Yeah. $2M in career earnings is huge for a player who has accumulated nothing to date. Nothing is guaranteed for these players, and it’s insane to think they don’t have a right to use the leverage they have available.

My beef is not with Gauthier’s decision — he’s not a punk for wanting to play elsewhere or wanting to maximize his earnings — but rather with the total break down in communication. And even that is on his advisors and representatives less than Gauthier himself. Being a conduit to professionally communicate between player and organization is all they are there for in the first place. It’s inexcusable to not take a meeting to clearly communicate CG’s intentions with Briere and Jones.

 

[bennysflyers16]

DO we know who his agent is yet ?

 

[usahockey22flyers]

Didn't they claim they haven't been able to talk to his camp either?

It sounds like they couldn’t get to parents or player, and it doesn’t sound like his reps wanted to talk about reconciliation or any path fwd together

 

[Danko]

Chuck Fletcher was the suckiest suck that ever sucked. It's like the Lindros trade butterfly effect, where we will be calculating for decades all of the tragedies that have befell the flyers since Fletcher took office.

 

[Beef Invictus]

If it came down to the ELC, that’s such a weird hill to die on to lose the prospect.

But you do do.

With Drysdale’s injury history I don’t see it as a good trade, if you do. By all means.

I’d just say don’t believe everything this org spews. Perhaps it’s not as on the “other side” as my points, but this is a trash heap, and Comcast cares most about positive PR.

The more I've watched Gauthier the more worried I am about his style translating. I mean, it's wholly possible he plays this way because it works and thus he doesn't need to play another way, and thus he would change when needed. But from my own moronic and stupid evaluation, in a vacuum, I like Drysdale more.

The problem is that the guy is injured over half the time. I'll take the guy who will actually play over the dead cap hit.

 

[Appleyard]

This is like arguing that nobody but Americans knows how to win at basketball. It's goofy.

You could win in the NHL with a team with no Canadians.
You could win in the NHL with a team solely made of Canadians.

 

[usahockey22flyers]

Yeah. $2M in career earnings is huge for a player who has accumulated nothing to date. Nothing is guaranteed for these players, and it’s insane to think they don’t have a right to use the leverage they have available.

My beef is not with Gauthier’s decision — he’s not a punk for wanting to play elsewhere or wanting to maximize his earnings — but rather with the total break down in communication. And even that is on his advisors and representatives less than Gauthier himself. Being a conduit to professionally communicate between player and organization is all they are there for in the first place. It’s inexcusable to not take a meeting to clearly communicate CG’s intentions with Briere and Jones.

There is no chance this organization would not have made good on the $$ lost if that was the only issue!!! Think how desperate they are!!!!

 

[Beef Invictus]

I have a tough time believing that if Cutter Gauthier said "if you don't sign me this May, I'm going to walk in 2026 and will never play with you" - Danny would say "ok that's fine, go back to college buddy".

If this was really about money, this kid wouldn't have sat ANOTHER 2 years in college to tell the Flyers to F off. No chance.

It has to go way further than this, or Cutter's camp really didn't communicate with the team - which actually seems like the most likely explanation. This org - who is desperate to win and is desperate to win over public perception - would not let him walk over a money thing, they would have made the money or "loss of earnings" right for him one way or another.

I probably would have called the kids bluff - but I understand why the Flyers got Drysdale. I would have much rather preferred getting a top 5 pick this summer or last summer and tearing down even more than they did last summer - but I doubt that option was feasible due to no one wanting to trade a top 5 pick? The MTL trade that MTL denied which Charlie threw out made a lot of sense to me, shame they couldn't pull something like that off.

Not talking to Jones, Briere, and Sharp while in Sweden is embarrassing behavior - especially after Cutter telling Danny (with Chuck) a year and half ago that he was "built to be a Flyer". You want to leave, that's fine - he has a right to not sign - but I don't like people who handle business like that.

This organization has lost the benefit of the doubt in pretty much every regard, but I just don't see how you can rip them on this occasion? You might not like how they handled the current roster or lineup decisions knowing he probably isn't in your plans after everything - but in terms of Cutter Gauthier, I don't know if they could have done anything else.

I think we can rip them for gleefully making themselves such a poor destination.

 

[Danko]

Kid was a crosby fan. That's what it boils down to.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

DO we know who his agent is yet ?

So, uh, our favorite Brandon Sommermannnnnnnn claims that "he's represented by the same agency as Shane Wright" which a quick google search tells me is KO Sports. Obviously I don't really trust anything that guy puts out there but...

Does anyone see something interesting?

Current NHL Clients - KO Sports

Learn more about KO Sports' hockey clients, ranging from professional NHL stars across the US to up-and-coming amateur players.

kosportsinc.com

Oh and Sean Walker.

 

[FatTugboatFlahr]

Based off of Briere going out of his way to call Cutter a LW and trying to move him for the 5th pick last year, it really seems like this management group wasn’t very high on him.

 

[Beef Invictus]

You could win in the NHL with a team with no Canadians.
You could win in the NHL with a team solely made of Canadians.

Once upon a time it was argued that India just doesn't have what it takes to win cricket. You need Brits and Aussies. Years of revamping training and development and now they're on par.

Nationality is irrelevant. It's all the same league with the same culture.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

There is no chance this organization would not have made good on the $$ lost if that was the only issue!!! Think how desperate they are!!!!

I think about how arrogant they are more than their desperation. They're the Philadelphia Flyers! Kneel before them!

 

[Random Forest]

There is no chance this organization would not have made good on the $$ lost if that was the only issue!!! Think how desperate they are!!!!

Yeah, I think that’s probably right. Not sure a highly lauded 20 year old would be able to fully grasp that, but I also do understand the desire to lock in your earnings rather than rely on the goodwill of a new management/ownership team.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

This is like arguing that nobody but Americans knows how to win at basketball. It's goofy.

This has become an interesting discussion in NBA circles. This is going to be the 6th consecutive year of a foreign MVP and there’s nothing in sight with much of a chance to change that. General consensus seems to be the best chance is Cooper Flagg developing into one by 2028-2030ish.

 

[BritainStix]

When has that happened?

You want a list?

Briere is the new GM. He's made some pretty shred acquisitions already in the hot seat, including the Provorov deal, removing Hayes and returning actual value for TDA. He got dealt a pretty awful hand and so far he hasn't done terribly.

Jones has become president, separating the role from the GM which appears to have had quite a positive influence on the organisation as a whole, including getting buy in from the alumni. He has removed quite a dark stink that surrounded this team for the years under Fletcher. Between himself and Briere they appear to have the power to run this franchise properly without the likes of Clarke and Holmgren interfering.

Both the GM and Jones have stated multiple times we are going to be rebuilding for at least the next 2+ years. A far cry from the moron Fletcher. It's been stated that we will be sellers and this minor run were on changes nothing.

The team on the ice are performing at a standard significantly higher than last year and multiple young players are taking big leap forwards in their development. The product on the ice is actually watchable. People are excited about this team again, people are back in the stadium watching them. That doesn't mean jack shit to some of the forum dwellers on here, but it's actual vital for this team to succeed.

We aren't trading draft picks like their candy, we aren't trading them at all. We're accumulating them for the first time in a long time. We need a big push at the deadline to aquire more. We have draft capital.

The majority of players that we have brought in have been successful so far. Phoeling and Walker have been successes. Even Belpedio and Mete looked OK in their stints. We didn't go big on stupid FA signings.

We are in a position to now make moves. Ristos contract doesn't look like the Albatros it was. Atkinson is no longer a LTIR catastrophe. Couturier has returned to form.

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

You could win in the NHL with a team with no Canadians.
You could win in the NHL with a team solely made of Canadians.

Spoken like a true European.

 

[JojoTheWhale]

Kid was a crosby fan. That's what it boils down to.

They’re all Crosby fans.

He’s the most famous and best player of his generation.

 

[FlyerNutter]

The more I've watched Gauthier the more worried I am about his style translating. I mean, it's wholly possible he plays this way because it works and thus he doesn't need to play another way, and thus he would change when needed. But from my own moronic and stupid evaluation, in a vacuum, I like Drysdale more.

The problem is that the guy is injured over half the time. I'll take the guy who will actually play over the dead cap hit.

I don’t mind moving on from Gauthier. It’s annoying because this team so desperately needed him to hit, and I was hoping for an exciting young guy to follow. Nobody is cheering for Farabee, and York. At least I’m not.

If he chose to not be a Flyer, organizational issues aside - targeting Drysdale is asinine. I’ll eat crow on that if the time comes, but the injury history should have ruled him out.

Their thinking is predictable as always. A shitty PP, needing help on the R side, and NHL ready talent.

I don’t buy there wasn’t something better, but as always it’s the evaluation process with this team. After Ellis/Patrick… That injury history should have ruled him out.

 

[OrangeAndBlackMetal]

Sort of indifferent on this trade tbh. I wasn’t a fan of the Gauthier pick at first but admittedly became somewhat excited about him. But his immaturity in this matter puts me in the good riddance boat. Not sure what else you expected Danny to do here. He got a 21 year old RHD with a lot of upside who was a high draft pick for a kid who hasn’t played in the league yet and already has some character concerns. Not ideal maybe, but the entire situation isn’t.

Besides, cutter is a stupid f***ing name and kid has major “my dads a lawyer” face. Gtfo.

 

[Random Forest]

I don’t mind moving on from Gauthier. It’s annoying because this team so desperately needed him to hit, and I was hoping for an exciting young guy to follow. Nobody is cheering for Farabee, and York. At least I’m not.

If he chose to not be a Flyer, organizational issues aside - targeting Drysdale is asinine. I’ll eat crow on that if the time comes, but the injury history should have ruled him out.

Their thinking is predictable as always. A shitty PP, needing help on the R side, and NHL ready talent.

I don’t buy there wasn’t something better, but as always it’s the evaluation process with this team. After Ellis/Patrick… That injury history should have ruled him out.

Who would have been a better target in a 1-for-1 type of exchange?

 

[Hollywood Cannon]

This has become an interesting discussion in NBA circles. This is going to be the 6th consecutive year of a foreign MVP and there’s nothing in sight with much of a chance to change that. General consensus seems to be the best chance is Cooper Flagg developing into one by 2028ish.

Excuse me, Joel Embiid is American. Check who he's going to play for in the Olympics.

 

[usahockey22flyers]

I think we can rip them for gleefully making themselves such a poor destination.

Fair lol