Flyers 2022 NHL draft pick Cutter Gauthier wants to bring “complete package”
From his name to his game, there are plenty of intrigues with Cutter Gauthier.
The Flyers definitely felt that way about his game, making him the fifth overall pick in Thursday night’s NHL Draft 2022 at Montreal’s Bell Center.
Gauthier, a personal, 18-year-old American forward, joins the Flyers with a wide range of tools.
What is the scoop?
“I’m a two-way power forward with a lot of skill, extremely versatile, can play left, right or center position,” Gauthier said Thursday night in a Zoom interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Love throwing the body and I’m also a good leader, so I think I’m a complete package and I’m happy to be a part of the Philly organization.”
His parents met not far from Philly. Gauthier’s father Sean Gauthier, a former goalkeeper, played for the Reading Royals, now the Flyers’ ECHL member, when he met his wife Kim. But the couple welcomed Cutter Gauthier to the world in Sweden, where Sean Gauthier played professionally at the time.
“My mother’s mother – my grandmother – was a season ticket holder for Reading Royals, and that’s how they met,” Gauthier said. “My dad ended his professional career away in Skellefteå in the league out there, and that was where he had myself and my younger sister.”
Gauthier grew up in Arizona, where his father had lived earlier in his career.
“Growing up was in Arizona because he was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets at the time and their farm team had moved down to Arizona,” Gauthier said. “So I guess he wanted one last kick in the jar of professional hockey. That’s where we started hockey and that’s where the passion started to grow, to see his old equipment and see all the memories of him playing.
“It was so inspiring, it was so cool to see it. I was hoping and dreaming that it would be me one day.
“So at the age of 10 we moved to Michigan to pursue my dreams, from the junior Coyotes to the Honeybaked program and it was a fantastic change. For the last two years I have been lucky enough to play with the American national team and that is where I is today. So I’m super excited and I can not wait to see what the future has to offer. “
During his draft year 2021-22, Gauthier was second in the American national team’s development program under the 18-man squad with 34 goals over 54 games, while recording 31 assists.
He said he had good conversations with the Flyers the day before the draft and on the scouting combination.
When he goes to Boston College 2022-23, he wants to play center. At what position does he project best?
“I think just what the team needs to help the team win,” Gauthier said. “I think I have shown my versatility in recent years by playing left wing, right wing or center. Wherever the coach is most comfortable with me playing, I am willing to do it and help the team win.”
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