John Tortorella And Philadelphia Flyers Owner Absolutely Torch Cutter Gauthier In Front Of The Media
The Philadelphia Flyers made a big splash acquiring Jamie Drysdale, the former 6th overall draft pick, and a 2nd round pick from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Cutter Gauthier who was just drafted 5th overall.
Major Controversy Has Emerged Regarding The Reasoning Of The Trade
According to NHL insiders Elliotte Friedman and Frank Seravalli, Gauthier informed the Flyers that he had no interest in signing with the team.
Flyers GM Daniel Briere confirmed this, expressing frustration that Gauthier wouldn't communicate or meet with the team in Sweden at the World Junior Championships.
Briere revealed a flip-flop in Gauthier's desire, recalling how he initially expressed eagerness to be a Flyer at the draft but later stated otherwise. Flyers assistant GM Keith Jones criticized Gauthier's lack of professionalism, suggesting the Flyers may have avoided a problem with the trade.
Flyers Owner And John Tortorella Absolutely Roast Cutter Gauthier
CEO Dan Hilferty predicted a "rough ride" for Gauthier upon his return to Philadelphia.
Head coach John Tortorella shared strong opinions on Gauthier and the trade after the Flyers' loss to the Penguins.
Reflecting on the trade, we question the rarity of such high-profile prospect swaps, drawing comparisons to the Jonathan Drouin and Mikhail Sergachev trade in 2017. Ducks GM Pat Verbeek spoke highly of Gauthier's dynamic skill set in the team's press release, emphasizing the difficulty of parting with Jamie Drysdale.
At 21 years old, Drysdale, drafted 6th overall by the Ducks in 2020, boasts 123 NHL games with a total of eight goals and 45 points over three seasons. Despite missing most of the last season due to a torn labrum, he's considered among the NHL's best young defensemen, secured with a reasonable $2.3 million cap hit for the next three years.
Gauthier, fresh from a gold medal win at the 2024 World Junior Championships with Team USA, showcased his prowess with an impressive 12 points in just 7 games. Recognized for his dynamic offensive skills, exceptional playmaking, and shooting abilities, Gauthier stands out as one of hockey's premier prospects. While the Ducks paid a hefty price, aligning Gauthier with talents like Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, and Leo Carlsson positions them with a wealth of young offensive firepower.
| POLL | ||
9 JANVIER | 357 ANSWERS John Tortorella And Philadelphia Flyers Owner Absolutely Torch Cutter Gauthier In Front Of The Media Do you think Cutter Gauthier will get booed when he plays in Philadelphia? | ||
| Yes | 338 | 94.7 % |
| No | 19 | 5.3 % |
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