Cutter Gauthier's Short-Term (and Long-Term) Fit in the Ducks' Lineup
The Anaheim Ducks held practice on Tuesday morning at Great Park Ice in Irvine, CA. Typically, about a dozen spectators (fans and media) quietly watch from the stands as the team runs through warm-ups, flow drills, system or small area drills, and individual skills. But this practice was different.
There was palpable excitement and energy at Great Park Ice as the number of spectators was probably closer to triple digits. The reason: Cutter Gauthier.
Gauthier even received a round of applause upon exiting the ice when practice concluded.
Ducks Sign Cutter Gauthier to ELC, Set to Make NHL Debut in Final Game
The Anaheim Ducks signed Cutter Gauthier to an ELC on Sunday following his Boston College Eagles loss in the NCAA championship game to the University of Denver on Saturday.
Gauthier arrived in Southern California on Monday evening and took part in practice on Tuesday morning in anticipation of the Ducks' matchup against the Golden Knights in Vegas on Thursday.
"The day's finally here. I couldn't be more thrilled," said Gauthier about his feelings joining the team. "I got chills just getting to the airport, settling in here, and meeting the guys."
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By the time Thursday's game in Vegas has concluded, Gauthier will have put a bow on a milestone-filled, emotional week of hockey. He scored a goal in Boston College's 4-0 semifinal win over the University of Michigan, but his team was shut out 2-0 in the Championship Game by the University of Denver despite being heavy favorites heading into the game. He's now set to make his NHL debut against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Golden Knights.
"It was a pretty emotional time there after the game," Gauthier said about having to adjust his mindset in a compressed window of time. "I've had a lot of time to think about it and shift my mentality."
Game One (Game 82 for the Ducks)
One of the most asked questions surrounding Gauthier and the Ducks circles around who his linemates will be. During Tuesday's practice, he played on a line with Leo Carlsson and Alex Killorn.
Gauthier will only suit up for the final game of the 2023-24 season for the Ducks.
Gauthier is seemingly being given every opportunity to succeed straight out of the gate with the Ducks. Leo Carlsson, though the production has been relatively modest, has shown he can play a dominant brand of hockey over the entire 200-foot ice surface and his potential seems limitless. Killorn's four-year, $6.25 million contract marks the Ducks' biggest UFA signing in nearly 20 years and his game has rounded into form after multiple injuries hampered his play or kept him out for significant time early in the season.
Killorn's Production Ramping Up as Season Comes to an End
Carlsson has proven to be an effective and dynamic rush/transition player who can get pucks to dangerous areas at will while Killorn thrives in small areas of the ice. It's not hard to envision how Gauthier can succeed with his skillset on a line with those two players. But, is that where he'd be most effective long-term on this roster?
Beyond
On the surface, it's easy to associate Gauthier's skillset with that of an off-puck sniper who excels at finding soft ice for teammates to set him up. While he is above-average in that aspect and those attributes are a perfect fit alongside players like Leo Carlsson and Trevor Zegras who are already dynamic with the puck on their stick and have elite vision, Gauthier's game is more layered than one may assume.
Gauthier has shown his own dynamism with the puck on his stick. He is more than capable of leading a rush through the neutral zone and from the perimeter, can get the puck to the slot at will. He has the rare ability to create his own shot with his blend of puck skills and power tendencies.
Playmaking is also an underrated aspect of his game and an area he's rounded out since he was drafted fifth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2022. He draws defenders toward him because they have to respect his shooting potential at all angles, which opens up lanes to feed cutting teammates. He even co-led the 2024 World Junior Championship tournament in assists (12) throughout the seven games he played.
The area he's yet to refine is battling in the tight areas of the ice and rounding out his effectiveness on the forecheck. Pairing him with a player (or players) like that who also possess finishing abilities may be his best avenue to success.
Though they both have heavy shots and are plus transition players, one may wonder what the results would yield if he were to be paired on a line with someone like Mason McTavish. McTavish's high motor and tenacity when the ice shrinks could open up quality opportunities for Gauthier to deploy all the layers of his game.
With Gauthier's skillset and versatility, he can play any position (either wing or center) and in any role. He has the tools to succeed regardless of the responsibility he takes on, and on any line in which he's placed.
With the young core in Anaheim and the opportunity he's being given out of the gate, the only limit to Cutter Gauthier's success will be determined by Cutter Gauthier, himself.
