Philadelphia Flyers Top 25 Under 25, No. 2: Cutter Gauthier

No. 2: Cutter Gauthier, LW/C

2022-23 League/Team(s): Boston College (NCAA) 2022-23 Statistics: 32 GP, 16 G, 21 A, 37 PTS, 37 PIM, +/- 2 Age: 19 Acquired In: 2022 NHL Draft - Round 1, Pick 5

How did Gauthier\'s 2022-23 season go? Is his stock trending up or down from where it was entering the year?

Gauthier continues to impress, and his stock has been rising since being drafted fifth overall by the Flyers in 2022. His freshman year at Boston College started a bit rocky with his move to center, but it eventually clicked and he finished the year with 16 goals and 37 points in 32 games--good enough to lead the team in scoring.

What really boosted his stock, though, wasn\'t his college play--it was a blistering performance at the IIHF Men\'s World Championships, where he scored seven goals and nine points in 10 games. His play at the World Juniors wasn\'t bad either, notching four goals and ten points in seven games back in January. As a result, Gauthier\'s begun to be viewed as one of the better prospects in NHL pipelines.

What are we expecting from Gauthier this season? What should we be looking for from him?

As a sophomore, Gauthier will be part of an absolutely loaded BC team--a team with eyes on an NCAA title. He has an opportunity to be an integral part of BC\'s success; if Gauthier shows he can be that guy , at center, then hoo boy--the Flyers got a good one. He\'s already shown he can dominate juniors and play with men; we want to see him continue to do that.

Ideally, Gauthier develops the signature traits of a star center: sound defensive play, supports his linemates, and (with his high-end shot) a lot of goals. If everything comes together for him this year, it shouldn\'t be long before he joins the big club.

How does Gauthier fit in the Flyers’ rebuild? Is it likely he’s going to be a part of the next good Flyers team?

Not only is Gauthier going to be part of the next good Flyers team, he\'s likely a core player. He fits the timeline, and is looking like he could be hold down a top-line spot on an NHL club as he matures and gets better. Whether that\'s at center or left wing remains to be seen, but he\'s got a real shot to stick at center.

What do we think Gauthier\'s ultimate NHL upside is, and how likely is it that he gets to something approaching that?

If everything goes right, Gauthier could be a bonafide 1C. His development looks promising, so it\'s quite possible he reaches that level. What\'s still up for debate is whether Gauthier remains at center or gets shifted to wing at the NHL level (he played left wing at Men\'s Worlds), but he\'s well positioned to succeed in either role, and that versatility could prove useful down the line.

As for Gauthier\'s floor, a high-scoring second liner is probably where he bottoms out. Regardless, the Flyers have a legit top six forward on their hands, with star potential should things go well.

Anything else?

There was some drama earlier this summer when Gauthier skipped rookie camp, which led to the first communication gaffe of Danny Briere\'s tenure as GM. It didn\'t really amount to much: Gauthier wanted a break to spend time with his family after traveling around the world for various tournaments--and who can blame the kid for wanting a summer vacation. Some wondered why he didn\'t join the Flyers at the end of last season (the initial plan was one-and-done at BC), but letting him play another year in the NCAA is great for the Flyers since they\'ll get an extra year for his ELC. BC is loaded with talent this year, too, and I\'d imagine Gauthier would like to stick around and chase a championship before joining a rebuilding Flyers club--might be worth watching a few of those college games, if you can.

Talking Points