The tipping point in the relationship between Cutter Gauthier and the Philadelphia Flyers might have come down to interpretation, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said Tuesday.
“I do believe … at the end of his season last year in school, there was a conversation about turning pro, and from what I understand, (the Flyers) couldn’t do it at the time because his bonuses would have put them over the cap, and they didn’t want there to be an overage this year,” Friedman said while making an appearance onThe Jeff Marek Show.
“One of the theories is that for whatever reason, Gauthier took that as a sign that they weren’t willing to take him right away or weren’t enthusiastic about taking him right away.
“And it might be broken telephone, but it’s the best explanation I’ve got so far, that Philly thought that meant one thing which was, ‘We’re still happy to have you, we want you and we’re gonna give you a great chance to make this team next year.’ They weren’t gonna promise him a spot, but I think they made it very clear that if he performed in camp and exhibition games the way he could, he could very well make the team.
“And I think it was perceived on the other side and that Philly wasn’t willing to bend things to make things happen right away. And that is the best intel I’ve been given so far by people that I trust.”
The Anaheim Ducks traded defenceman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick in 2025 to the Flyers on Monday for Gauthier, whose unwillingness to sign with Philadelphia catalyzed this swap of highly regarded prospects.
Flyers general manager Danny Brière said he traded Gauthier, the fifth-overall pick in the 2022 draft, because Gauthier wouldn’t sign, train or even communicate with the Flyers. Gauthier refused to meet with Brière and Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones when they flew to Sweden last month to watch as Gauthier led the U.S. team to the gold medal at the recently completed World Junior Championship.
–with files from The Associated Press