Continued Fallout From the Gauthier Trade
On January 8th the Flyers shocked the hockey world by trading their top prospect Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 2nd round pick. Flyers Twitter and the rest out the internet lit up in storm depending answers from Flyers executive. During press conferences and interviews with Flyers GM Danny Briere and President Keith Jones it came to light that the trade was made because Cutter Gauthier did not want to play in Philly.
It has been explained that during the past offseason when Cutter was representing team USA at the World Championships the Gauthier camp cut off all contact with the Flyers organization. The leading reports was that Gauthier wanted to turn pro during that off season and play in the NHL liked the guy picked before him in the draft Logan Cooley did in Arizona. But the Flyers wanted him to stay in college to develop for another year. And signing him would put the Flyers over the salary cap.
Later in the week Cutter released his own statement saying that the reason why he did not want to play in Philadelphia was that he did not trust the new management and coaches. Meaning that he does not trust Danny Briere and Keith Jones due to their inexperience. As well as the hard nose coaching style of Tortorella.
At the same time as false report was started by reporter Anthony SanFilippo stating that Kevin Hayes had something to do with the trade. Since Hayes was one of the only Flyers players Gauthier was in contact with since they both played at Boston College. Hayes had an ugly fallout with the Flyers leading to his trade last summer around the same time Cutter cut off the Flyers. This report has been falsified by Kevin Hayes himself who has talked to the Flyers organization to clear the air.
Then the media got involved trying to decide who won the trade. Some saying that the Flyers handled the situation with grace while others said they did everything wrong. And others, Ryan Whitney and Sean Avery said that Philadelphia is the worst city in the world with scumbag fans, it is no wonder why he ran.
All that matters now is that the Flyers have a player in Jamie Drysdale who has not yet reached his potential and a change of scenario could be exactly what he needs, similar to Owen Tippett. Someone who was playing alright but could really pop off when playing in a new city.
One thing that is for sure is that Cutter Gauthier has made himself public enemy number one in Philadelphia. It is going to be a must watch/much attend game when he plays his first game in Philly as a member of the Ducks.
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Categorized:Flyers