Prospect Info: Round 1, Pick 5: Cutter Gauthier, LW, USNTDP -> Boston College

[GKJ]

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[cheesesteak]

Was also hoping for a trade down but I don’t mind the pick. I like Jiricek but was worried about his knee. Was hoping for Nemec to fall. Feel like it’s a crap shoot with the handful of forwards you see people ranking in many different orders.

The main thing is the Flyers need to start hitting with their picks. If he becomes a solid top 6 forward that’s a fine pick IMO. Ideally for me he’d develop into something like Brayden Schenn. I’m expecting a big year at BC that will raise his stock.

 

[FLYguy3911]

Is he even our best prospect at this point in time?

The fact I had to think about it says a lot.

 

[Magua]

Is he even our best prospect at this point in time?

Ditto the thinking about it part. Recency bias exists, but I still lean no. I think that also speaks to how mediocre the recent drafting has been, for all the shitting on of the last regime's picks. The last 2 classes in particular had so many players who could lead the pack here, but Fletcher either traded or whiffed the picks. They obviously lack a blue chipper or two.

I'm thinking about each of our top FWD prospects: Gauthier, Brink, Foerster, Allison, Cates, Desnoyers (lol). And I'm being generous because a few of those guys are not top of the lineup potential. Are ANY of these guys actually puck transporters? I'd argue the majority are below average, if anything, and support pieces for the nonexistent guys who are. Who's the only long term current young NHLer....Farabee? He doesn't qualify as one. Frost, if he's not traded for a 2nd rounder tomorrow? Warmer, but pace through the NZ isn't his speciality. Tuomaala is the best skater of the bunch by far, but I'm not even sure he's a future NHLer, and he lacks deception as a carrier. On defense, if Sanheim goes, who can actually get from Point A to B by himself against NHL schemes? For all the talk about fit, I don't think management has any inkling on what they actually lack.

 

[deadhead]

Well, let's see Gauthier at center first, big body centers have an advantage when it comes to zone entries (see Hayes, his strong point, same with Voracek at wing).

But there aren't that many in the NHL who excel at that, recency bias with Makar and MacKinnon, but who on St Louis, Washington, the Kings, etc. And some with the raw skills never develop, OEL for example.

 

[BernieParent]

Oh good. Energy pick in the top 5. Awesome. These guys definitely understand hockey in 2022.

What does juice off the ice even mean? Why should we care? Is this an extension of making the locker room even palsier? Or leaderly? Which locker room is Fletcher committing his choices to at present?

 

[Magua]

What does juice off the ice even mean?

 

[FlyerNutter]

Dark humor always wins.

 

[Beef Invictus]

What does juice off the ice even mean? Why should we care? Is this an extension of making the locker room even palsier? Or leaderly? Which locker room is Fletcher committing his choices to at present?

Hagg was good at practicing.

Edit: On a serious note, it's concerning that he jumped due to combine results. Basically because he's good at practicing. That's neat and all, but how about being best at some actual hockey game stuff instead of practice reps?

 

[Beef Invictus]

Well, let's see Gauthier at center first, big body centers have an advantage when it comes to zone entries (see Hayes, his strong point, same with Voracek at wing).

But there aren't that many in the NHL who excel at that, recency bias with Makar and MacKinnon, but who on St Louis, Washington, the Kings, etc. And some with the raw skills never develop, OEL for example.

Cutter isn't noted for his transition ability, and the Flyers don't value that aspect of the game at all so they won't be developing it into him once they have their oily hands on him.

 

[BritainStix]

David Jiricek was still on the board and we didn't pick him. Wtf! ​

 

[mja]

Charlie keeps saying it’s a big swing for some reason.

It's all just overly hopeful projections based on size.

 

[mja]

Ditto the thinking about it part. Recency bias exists, but I still lean no. I think that also speaks to how mediocre the recent drafting has been, for all the shitting on of the last regime's picks. The last 2 classes in particular had so many players who could lead the pack here, but Fletcher either traded or whiffed the picks. They obviously lack a blue chipper or two.

I'm thinking about each of our top FWD prospects: Gauthier, Brink, Foerster, Allison, Cates, Desnoyers (lol). And I'm being generous because a few of those guys are not top of the lineup potential. Are ANY of these guys actually puck transporters? I'd argue the majority are below average, if anything, and support pieces for the nonexistent guys who are. Who's the only long term current young NHLer....Farabee? He doesn't qualify as one. Frost, if he's not traded for a 2nd rounder tomorrow? Warmer, but pace through the NZ isn't his speciality. Tuomaala is the best skater of the bunch by far, but I'm not even sure he's a future NHLer, and he lacks deception as a carrier. On defense, if Sanheim goes, who can actually get from Point A to B by himself against NHL schemes? For all the talk about fit, I don't think management has any inkling on what they actually lack.

Who needs puck-carriers when you can just dump it in?

 

[Garbage Goal]

Between what the Flyers value, his described skill set, who is running the team there’s like zero chance he’s anything special, if anything at all.

Also, his name is Cutter.

 

[Psuhockey]

I think that also speaks to how mediocre the recent drafting has been, for all the shitting on of the last regime's picks.

When you have the same scouts recommending the same type of players you get the same results. Perhaps Hextall wasn’t some rogue GM ignoring all the super smart scouts advice.

 

[dats81]

If Gauthier can make the switch to center and stay there, they did everything right.
Jiricek is good but his upside is #2D at best. Anyonelse left was already a tier below them in terms of talent + probability of success.

It really sucks not having a second round choice and I have zero trust in Fletcher's ability to re-coup that pick via trade.

 

[TCTC]

OK, Cutter. Over to you. Tell us what makes your game appealing.

​

“I’m a two-way power forward with lots of skill who loves throwing the body, is extremely versatile, whether it’s playing left wing, right wing or center, power play, penalty kill,” he said. “I’d say I’m a complete package. I can play any role in any situation.”​

He doesn't lack confidence. That's for sure.

 

[TCTC]

The Knife! Would have preferred a trade back (or Frank Nazar) but I like it.

He'll be cutting through defenses like a knife through butter.

 

[Flyerfan18]

Farabee semed to get playing time as a freshman. Be interesting to see if the BC coaches see him as a future Center.

They do. Was driving when pick was made and in his interview on NHL radio he said he was playing centre at BC.

 

[Flyerfan18]

No idea why people keep questioning if he can make the switch to centre. He is a natural centre that volunteered to play wing the past two years because of the glut of centres on the team. Just makes him a more rounded player. He wasn’t asked to switch to wing he volunteered.

 

[sa cyred]

I know it was said a few times already but after really thinking about it if Wright was there at 5, I can’t say I think the Flyers would choose him over Cutter.

 

[renberg]

Evidently Gauthier had time at center with the USDT before the coaches decided that putting him on the same line as Cooley made for better team play. It'll be interesting to see which of those two has the better NHL career. Did Cooley set up Gauthier to score or did Gauthier's scoring skill cause opponents to focus on him with open-end up ice for Cooley? Be that as it may, Greg Brown, the HC at BC is going to move Gauthier back to center for the fall. We'll soon see if he can handle that slot.
Taking Gauthier instead of Jiricek will be a move that will be questioned and answered going forward. With the Flyers' history of injured prospects, Jiricek's knee issue had to be a concern.
As for trading back, in order to get who and for what? Korchinski; a defenseman who is pretty much all offense. Savoie's has a size issue. Mintyukov might be a decent defenseman but no in the top five selection area. Geekie isn't better than Gauthier. Kasper is a sleeper. He might be a good one but there was no room to trade back and still get him. Yzerman had him covered.

 

[blackjackmulligan]

Didn't do any backreading? What is the consensus among the boards, good or bad pick?

I myself would have tried out trade up to get Wright or trade Down to get Nazar and other picks/prospects.

 

[dragonoffrost]

Heard these words yesterday on NHL Radio or the TV can't recall which and now I'm still cringing this morning about this pick "PROTOTYPICAL FLYER"

 

[WIP CALLER]

Wheeler’s thoughts on the pick pretty much mirror my own. I think I would have been more comfortable with Jiricek’s floor and upside but all of the players available had some degree of risk. Best move would have been to trade back and pick up a 2nd but we know the Flyers don’t value 2nd round picks. Hope it works out and Gautheir puts it all together and he turns into a legit top line player, but I will be a bit surprised. I foresee him being a good but not a star player. Is that worth it at 5 in this draft? I guess we will see down the line but I could see several guys drafted after Cutter making the pick real bad if they hit their ceiling.

I said in the lead-up to the draft that Gauthier would be in the top-10 conversation for me, but not the top top-five one. And while I’m in the minority on that, I’m comfortable being there. He’s a strong, fast, athletic, powerful player with one of the best shots in the draft. I do worry he’s going to be the second-best player on a top-six line in the NHL rather than a focal point, though. You can get away with taking that player if he’s that on a first line. But if he becomes that for a second line, he won’t be a justifiable selection. The tools are clear and the ceiling is real. And yet despite being viewed as a projectable, safe pick, I do see some risk — a little more than I would have been comfortable with, at least.

 

[PhlthyRich]

I'm a fan of the pick. Our two biggest needs in the prospect pool are C and RD; we took care of one of them. I really thought with Wright falling that Cooley could have fallen in our lap. Oh well. From what I read, Cutter skates extremely well for his size and has an explosive stride. I'm not a fan of the JVR comparison. Cutter doesn't shy away from the physical side of the game. He's 6'3 201 at 18 years old. He will only get stronger as his body fills out. Perhaps he ends up as a hybrid C/W which wouldn't be bad. Excited to see him play at BC.