Have to really like the skill set. Flyers desperately need that. Hope Tortorella doesn't try and turn a thoroughbred into a harness racer.
- MJL

I'm encouraged on the development of the blue line this season. Drysdale is certainly a different skill set that is currently on the roster. I expect him to be on PP1 immediately. Probably not that much PK time to start. Ironically. I think he could learn a lot from Walker. who probably won't be here much longer.

You may be overstating this a bit. He's going to get 40+ goals out of TK (1 time 30G scorer). Aren't they top 3 in the league in goals for players under 26? It's an uphill battle with this roster though. Although I do admit the PP has found new and improved ways to suck, the talent has to be there. This team lacks a top-tier finishing so they have to play system hockey.
- Richard_wilderness

The Flyers are 25th in the league and falling in G/PG. They're PP is the worst in the league. Now it's not all coaching. The Flyers biggest issue is and remains high level talent. Did you watch the game last night? How by design the Pens move within the offensive zone to create misdirection and deception. How they move the puck with purpose and design. How other teams create speed on breakouts in the neutral zone with set plays, regroups and post ups. Everything the Flyers get, has to come from extreme hard work and a lot of individual play. Take away the SH goals and the Flyers are even worse offensively just in terms of 5 on 5 and PP goal scoring. This team is badly in need of getting an assistant in here with an offensive mind. Rocky Thompson is inept.

Jonesy seemed rattled:

“If you don’t wanna be a flyer you’re not gonna be”
- anti-lame

TBH, I'd be pissed too. You have a kid that said I was born to be a flyer after you draft him high. He proceeds to say he doesn't want to play in Philly and halts all communication with you. Not very professional IMO

His hands and puck skills. But with added size you have a more unique player with the skating ability
- Just5

The best defenseman in the league are a similar size to Drysdale. His size is not what is going to keep him from getting to that level. If you can play, you can play.

They're not. It would be too easy to get caught doing that.
- MJL

Absolutely they're not. And it tells me all I need to know really. Player feels he's entitled to decide exactly where he wants to play even though he's never played a game in the NHL.

So what would it be that would keep him from reaching that level? His hands and puck skills or his size. What size are Hughes, Makar and Fox?
- MJL

Interesting. He's the same size as Makar really. I thought Makar was slightly bigger.

The Flyers are 25th in the league and falling in G/PG. They're PP is the worst in the league. Now it's not all coaching. The Flyers biggest issue is and remains high level talent. Did you watch the game last night? How by design the Pens move within the offensive zone to create misdirection and deception. How they move the puck with purpose and design. How other teams create speed on breakouts in the neutral zone with set plays, regroups and post ups. Everything the Flyers get, has to come from extreme hard work and a lot of individual play. Take away the SH goals and the Flyers are even worse offensively just in terms of 5 on 5 and PP goal scoring. This team is badly in need of getting an assistant in here with an offensive mind. Rocky Thompson is inept.
- MJL

Valid points but the talent has to be there too. Its just not. Maybe a step in the right direction though with this move.

How were they supposed to work with his agent when the player and his agent wouldn't talk to them? I can't imagine the Flyers are lying about that part of the story.
- Hextall271

Apparently, he is close to Hayes. And, Hayes has decent relations with Danny and Jonesy and reached out himself to say he was not involved. Maybe have Hayes be sort of an informal intermediary?

Look, I simply don't buy that Flyers have no idea whatsoever about the causes. That would be twilight zone stuff. Maybe they don't want to say it. Which makes me think it is more than center/wing. More likely coach or perhaps even a loss of faith about direction of franchise.

But believe me, by this time, they have a very good idea why.

Incidentally, Ducks have announced CG as LW. Jokes on Cutter if playing center was his goal.

TBH, I'd be pissed too. You have a kid that said I was born to be a flyer after you draft him high. He proceeds to say he doesn't want to play in Philly and halts all communication with you. Not very professional IMO
- Hextall271

There is always two sides. The flyers went through a regime change. Fletcher could have presented and agreed with the path Cutter wanted to take in his career at the time he interviewed the kid before drafting him. Then Danny and KJ came to him with a different plan. A plan that would have him spend time in LHV if he wanted to leave school early. No promises on a roster spot.

Quote from Pat Birdbeak via NHL.com. It seems the Ducks don’t see Cuttwr coming to the NHL immediately either.

"When I look at our system, our organization and the depth of our system, we do not have a player like this in our organization," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said of Gauthier. .... "When I discussed with our amateur scouts, there's not a player like this coming, so two years down the road in his development, he should be able to come in and play in the NHL. That all went into this decision. … There's certain times when you want to shake things up, this wasn't the case. This was a need case, in my view."

Apparently, he is close to Hayes. And, Hayes has decent relations with Danny and Jonesy and reached out himself to say he was not involved. Maybe have Hayes be sort of an informal intermediary?

Look, I simply don't buy that Flyers have no idea whatsoever about the causes. That would be twilight zone stuff. Maybe they don't want to say it. Which makes me think it is more than center/wing. More likely coach or perhaps even a loss of faith about direction of franchise.

But believe me, by this time, they have a very good idea why.

Incidentally, Ducks have announced CG as LW. Jokes on Cutter if playing center was his goal.
- PT21

I just think it would be silly to involve Hayes in any way. I don't believe that Hayes had anything to do with the kids decision to stop speaking with the flyers.

Also, If he wanted to play for a winner immediately, it doesn't look like he got what he wanted..

The best defenseman in the league are a similar size to Drysdale. His size is not what is going to keep him from getting to that level. If you can play, you can play.
- MJL

Would he be a more coveted player around the league at 6’3 200? All else being equal

Yea or no. No spew

What would you expect from an organization that drafts a kid in good faith, and that they have been touting as a big part of their future, only to have that draft pick refuse to sign with you and not offer you a reason why? You're damned right the Flyers have very visible rancor.

And what drama are you referring too? When has this happened several times a year, year after year? This is pure hyperbole.
- jd250

Drafting any college kid is act of good faith. Pretty sure every team does it.
If Danny and team knew since last year that he was not coming to Philadelphia they would be stupid not sing his praises and hype him up to up his value.

I just think it would be silly to involve Hayes in any way. I don't believe that Hayes had anything to do with the kids decision to stop speaking with the flyers.

Also, If he wanted to play for a winner immediately, it doesn't look like he got what he wanted..
- Hextall271

How often, in your professional life, have you ever come across a situation when one party just backed out of an understanding, completely out of the blue, and apparently refused to say why, and even meet, over months?

Hayes was just an example.

Flyers not so subtly painted the kid as an erratic, temperamental, entitled brat. Then backed it with a chorus of not so subtle ra ra stuff. How dare he! We don't want him in that case!

I read in this a carefully coordinated campaign. Multiple voices, all suddenly saying the same kinda thing.

It is entirely possible Flyers are indeed the lesser to blame, but I simply do not buy what they are saying. It makes no sense.

From Charlie O'Connor today:
- jd250

The same COC who said Frost had no future in Philly cause Gauthier was gonna play center.

Quote from Pat Birdbeak via NHL.com. It seems the Ducks don’t see Cuttwr coming to the NHL immediately either.

"When I look at our system, our organization and the depth of our system, we do not have a player like this in our organization," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said of Gauthier. .... "When I discussed with our amateur scouts, there's not a player like this coming, so two years down the road in his development, he should be able to come in and play in the NHL. That all went into this decision. … There's certain times when you want to shake things up, this wasn't the case. This was a need case, in my view."
- mikeyo27

He'll be in the NHL as soon as his college season is done.

that's your opinion and misguided. They 100% look bad.

What changed this players mind in a matter of months? To walk out doe snot look good for the flyers at all.
- hello it's me 2050

Briere did an outstanding job here. His two big moves have been very good thus far. Not his fault the kid doesnt want to play here. He got a young right dman with loads of promise and decent pick for guy that was never going to play here. He also kept it silent and handled it w class yesterday. The kids camp needs to leak something here otherwise hes gonna come off as a primadonna until he starts playing games and shows otherwise. IF it was Kevin Hayes, I really dont want anyone who takes career advice from Kevin Hayes.

Would he be a more coveted player around the league at 6’3 200? All else being equal

Yea or no. No spew
- Just5

what if he was even taller? like 6.9, weighed 250 and shot fireballs out of his ars?

He'll be in the NHL as soon as his college season is done.
- Feanor

Perhaps. If BC makes the frozen 4 in April, the Ducks will have 3 games left at that point.

Either way, I expect BC to be playing into April, so maybe and maybe not.

Quote from Pat Birdbeak via NHL.com. It seems the Ducks don’t see Cuttwr coming to the NHL immediately either.

"When I look at our system, our organization and the depth of our system, we do not have a player like this in our organization," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said of Gauthier. .... "When I discussed with our amateur scouts, there's not a player like this coming, so two years down the road in his development, he should be able to come in and play in the NHL. That all went into this decision. … There's certain times when you want to shake things up, this wasn't the case. This was a need case, in my view."
- mikeyo27

Two years? Sometimes I think it is unfair to these young players that they are not getting their shot earlier. Two years?

Based upon the available information, this is my assessment:
CG probably headed off to BC under the assumption that he would turn pro after he was done with the college season.
Whether Flyer management, namely Fletcher, implicitly expressed this to CG or his agent is not known.
Come Spring 2023, and Fletcher is no longer GM. The Flyers indicate that they believe CG should stay in school for another year. It could be because the team realizes it is not going to compete for a couple years and would rather let him develop and push the entry contract off an additional year.
CG sees this as forfeiting a year of compensation and delaying getting to RFA/UFA by two years. Also, possibly, that the Flyers went back on their word.
No doubt, the center vs wing stuff and buddy Hayes' view of Torts and being traded are part of the puzzle, too. Although, they're probably smaller pieces.

If Drysdale can become a 1st pair guy, this could be a really good trade. Call me in three years.

what if he was even taller? like 6.9, weighed 250 and shot fireballs out of his ars?
- 26912 PP1

Then he would be leading a Scottish revolution against the British oppressors.

Back in his draft year elite prospects had this to say about him.
“He's a brilliant skater, capable of quarterbacking a power play with ease and generating results both ways through the neutral zone. More of a playmaker than a shooter, Drysdale is adaptable first and foremost. He's going to make the best decision regardless, no matter the situation. He's the only defenceman in this year's draft with clear No. 1 defenceman upside.” This kid can be the real deal number one defenseman for us for many years to come.

They're not. It would be too easy to get caught doing that.
- MJL

is it possible they didn't want to meet at that time then said another time? Or is it possible they already meet and made their stance clear and felt their was no need for another conversation?

Cant imagine an agent not meeting with a team or saying no as that would severely hurt him and his business.

Based upon the available information, this is my assessment:
CG probably headed off to BC under the assumption that he would turn pro after he was done with the college season.
Whether Flyer management, namely Fletcher, implicitly expressed this to CG or his agent is not known.
Come Spring 2023, and Fletcher is no longer GM. The Flyers indicate that they believe CG should stay in school for another year. It could be because the team realizes it is not going to compete for a couple years and would rather let him develop and push the entry contract off an additional year.
CG sees this as forfeiting a year of compensation and delaying getting to RFA/UFA by two years. Also, possibly, that the Flyers went back on their word.
No doubt, the center vs wing stuff and buddy Hayes' view of Torts and being traded are part of the puzzle, too. Although, they're probably smaller pieces.

If Drysdale can become a 1st pair guy, this could be a really good trade. Call me in three years.
- GeorgeBailey

agree w most of this but i think if a player wants to come out of college he does that. i dont think the flyers stop him. they might try to talk him out of it, but i dont see that as the issue here. if he wanted to play here in Oct he would have been here