On Monday, the Philadelphia Flyers traded forward Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round selection in the 2025 NHL draft. And you know all that came out of that, which rumours surfacing that the first rounder did not want to play in Philadelphia and that he had declined the team’s development camp this past summer.
However, according to general manager Daniel Briere, Gauthier was excepted to join the Flyers.
“He looked at us at the draft and told us that he was built to be a Flyer. Wanted to be a Flyer,” Briere said. “A few months later, he told us that he didn’t want to be a Flyer.”
What the heck happened in the meantime? It was revealed that the team had issues meeting or even speaking with Gauthier in Sweden at last week’s World Junior Championships in order to get details on a deal ironed out.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Gauthier was planning on signing with the Flyers late last season, but wasn’t able to due to the team’s cap situation, citing a team bonus overage salary cap issue.
On Tuesday, on top of Friedman’s update on the situation, a video surfaces in which the Draft’s comments were put next to an interview he did shortly before the World Junior Championships. In the latter footage, he reveals that he says he has been a Pittsburgh Penguins fan since childhood.
You read that right: in one video, he’s excited to be a Flyer, in the other, he is a Penguins fan!
Despite Friedman’s report of an obvious miscommunication between the team and Gauthier, fans are upset that the prospect appears to have lied on television when asked about his excitement to play for Philadelphia.
The video has been trending since it came out on Tuesday, and it does look pretty bad for Gauthier, who at least now, can play for the Ducks in the Western conference and still have a soft spot for the Penguins.
Recommended articles:
- NHL insider reveals exactly what happened to make Gauthier “sour” on the Flyers
- Elliotte Friedman blows the lid off of the entire Cutter Gauthier situation, gives exact details on what happened
- Kevin Hayes calls out 'clowns' in Philly media who claim he forced Gauthier trade
- Kevin Hayes blamed for Cutter Gauthier's decision to leave the Flyers
- Tortorella to Cutter Gauthier: “We don't want you.”
