The Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks completed a trade involving two top prospects on Monday night. Jamie Drysdale takes charge of Pennsylvania while Cutter Gauthier joins the Californian organization.
In addition to Drysdale, the Flyers also get a 2025 second-round pick.
The Ducks’ sixth overall pick in the 2020 draft, the right-handed defenseman has five points in 10 games since the start of the campaign.
By letting the 21-year-old go, however, general manager Pat Verbeek is securing the services of another very promising player. Cutter Gauthier won the gold medal with Team USA at the most recent World Junior Hockey Championship. The center was among the tournament’s most productive players with 12 points in seven games.
The fifth pick in the 2022 draft is currently developing at Boston College, where he has 23 points in 17 games since the start of the season.
According to various journalists, Daniel Brière was almost forced to let the 19-year-old player go because he had no intention of one day getting along with the Flyers. According to Elliotte Friedman, it would have been extremely difficult for the Flyers staff to meet Gauthier during the WJC, proof of his intentions.
Drysdale’s name joins a nice bank of prospects on the Philadelphia side, including Matvei Michkov, Oliver Bonk and Denver Barkey.