Just minutes after the start of their contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Wells Fargo Center Monday night, the Philadelphia Flyers announced a significant trade involving one of the top prospects in their pipeline.
The Flyers traded 2022 first-round draft selection Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Yeah. That happened.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Flyers opted to trade Gauthier after it became apparent the soon-to-be 20-year-old preferred not to play in Philadelphia.
The Flyers selected Gauthier with the No. 5 overall pick of the 2022 draft. Since being drafted, the Swedish-born American has thrived in the college ranks, logging 29 goals and 60 points in 49 games with Boston College. He is also coming off a stellar performance at the World Juniors, posting a pair of goals and 12 points in seven games to help guide the U.S. to a gold medal victory over Finland. He was named the top player of the tournament.
Drysdale, meanwhile, was selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2020 draft. The 21-year-old has logged a goal and five points through 10 games to begin the season. He missed two months with a lower-body injury suffered on October 15 in the Ducks’ second game of the season.
Drysdale signed a three-year, $6.9 million contract just prior to the start of the season.
This is a developing story. Stay with Broad Street Hockey for updates.
