Transaction: Flyers finally get rid of Cutter Gauthier

The Ducks and Flyers shocked the hockey world on Monday night by trading two talented young players. Anaheim got American forward Cutter Gauthier, and Philadelphia received defenseman Jamie Drysdale, as well as a second-round pick in 2025.

Major transaction in Philadelphia. Cutter Gauthier, the 5th pick in the 2022 draft, goes to Anaheim for Jamie Drysdale, the 6th overall pick in the 2020 draft. https://t.co/8xChGfFG3W

– J-F Chaumont (@JFChaumontJDM) January 9, 2024

Let’s just say that the transaction is quite surprising at the time, but on closer inspection, it makes a lot more sense.

The main interested party in this transaction is Cutter Gauthier. The fifth overall pick of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, he never seemed to get along with the Flyers, not even showing up at rookie camp in 2023.

What’s more, according to Adam Kimelman of NHL.com, Daniel Brière and other members of the Flyers attended the World Junior Championship in Sweden, most likely to see their prospect, Gauthier. Gauthier may have confirmed to the Flyers that he doesn’t want to sign with their organization.

Flyers GM Danny Briere and president Keith Jones were at World Juniors. Have to wonder if Gauthier said he didn’t want to sign with the Flyers. We’ll hear from Briere during 1st intermission of tonight’s game https://t.co/Xsnb26SBgO

– Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) January 9, 2024

Darren Dreger then shared on Twitter that Gauthier really didn’t want to sign with the Flyers. This prompted Briere to find a way to get rid of him and get something out of him.

Flyers GM Danny Briere has been working on this trade for months. Gauthier wouldn’t sign or talk with the Flyers, so they felt it was best to move on now. https://t.co/MHz8nHbuOE

– Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 9, 2024

Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick is still a good return, especially against a player who wanted nothing to do with you and would have slipped through your hands with no return.

For now, Jamie Drysdale is already established in the NHL. He missed a few games this season due to injury, but he belongs in a top-6 team, certainly the Flyers’.

In 10 games this season, the Canadian defenseman collected 5 points. That’s not bad at all from the sixth overall pick in 2020. He’s currently finishing the first year of a three-year contract, which has a $2.3 million impact on the payroll.

More details to come…

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