Philadelphia Flyers top prospect, Cutter Gauthier, is starting to find his flow with Boston College.
Drafted fifth overall by Philadelphia during the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Gauthier brings major upside and high-end potential with him to the City of Brotherly Love. Only 18 years old, Gauthier’s performances this season with Boston College are only showing that he is not far off from making his NHL debut.
In eight games played this season, Gauthier has nine points (6G, 3A), and is averaging 1.12 points per game. He currently ranks 33rd in the NCAA in points. Missing the first two games of the season, Gauthier is finding his rhythm.
Boston College is 4-3-1 in the Hockey East standings, which puts them in seventh place behind Boston University. Gauthier scored in his debut on October 18th versus Northeastern. Since then, there have only been two games where he hasn’t registered a point.
After his college debut, Gauthier received praise from head coach Greg Brown. Gauthier started the game slowly but found his pace as time continued:
“We know what Cutter can do. First game, probably amped up, really excited to play. I thought in the first period, he was kind of just feeling his way around. He got more comfortable as the game went on and really showed some of the things he’s capable of in the second half of the game, including the goal that he had.”
Greg Brown; 10/19/2022
Gauthier’s shot is one of his many strengths and a reason why he ascended the prospect rankings throughout the last year. He has 29 total shots this season, averaging 3.6 per game.
Along with his shot, Gauthier has speed, size, and versatility by being able to play as both a left-winger and a center. He’s been playing both positions with Boston College but is primarily focused on center because that’s the position he sees himself contributing to when in the NHL.
The Flyers have lacked a high-end goal scorer since Jeff Carter. Gauthier draws comparisons to Carter but likes to model his game after Mark Scheifele and Pierre-Luc Dubois. Nonetheless, Gauthier is nearly the complete package in terms of a player and one that many teams would love to have in their system.
There are still flaws in Gauthier’s game such as adjusting to center, two-way play, and his speed. As his college season continues, potentially through the end of March, his minor weaknesses will be strengthened.
Continuing to find his flow in the NCAA, Gauthier is becoming a difference-maker for Boston College. The Flyers have a Boston College Alum of their own on the roster, Kevin Hayes. When the transition to the NHL eventually comes for Gauthier, he’ll have familiar company alongside of him.
Gauthier is eager to jump into the NHL as soon as possible. When that will be is a question that remains unanswered. No matter when that time is, Gauthier will take every chance he has to be the difference maker that the Flyers drafted him to be.
(Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)
