This development seems to make the drafting of a projected solid but not flashy Bonk a good team fit. Drysdale, York, Zamula, Andrae and Bonk with Sanheim as vet presence looks like a reason for future optimism. The Flyers should have a heavy bias for drafting forwards, preferably a C next summer.

At this point I don't care why it happened. What I care about is who can actually score for this team. I can't get excited about Michkov until his actual arrival. This team is pretty good defensively, and Drysdale should help as an offensive RHD, heres where Briere earns my respect by using his abundance of d talent to land a winger with the ability to put the puck in the net

Well, I'll disagree this is the route to protect his client. But hey, I'm certainly ready to move on and see if Drysdale can become a #1 Dman- I find that very exciting. He has all the tools
- Trox88

Curious why you would disagree that by keeping it private, the agent is trying to protect his client?

This development seems to make the drafting of a projected solid but not flashy Bonk a good team fit. Drysdale, York, Zamula, Andrae and Bonk with Sanheim as vet presence looks like a reason for future optimism. The Flyers should have a heavy bias for drafting forwards, preferably a C next summer.
- Minnyhock

Not sure I agree with that. There's really not a player on that list that has a high probability of being that #1 defenseman the Flyers really need. They really need two top pairing defenseman for the future. Maybe Drysdale can be one of them but all the others. Seems to me their upside is 2nd pairing level. If there is a stud defenseman available to the Flyers, which is doubtful where they'll likely be drafting. They should take that player if he is BPA. The Flyers haven't had much of an issue drafting good players, more so forwards. It's drafting top echelon defenseman and elite players overall that they have trouble with. The can't pass up a stud defenseman if it's available.

I'm happy Drysdale is here, but his insertion in the lineup cannot be at the expense of Zamula, who has been playing and developing very nicely. I think the Flyers will need to play 7 D and 11 forwards until they can make a trade. Hopefully Deslauriers will be the one who sits.

Not knowing the return. In my mind it’s impossible to get two assets, 1 being a roster player for a kid who has never even smelled NHL ice. With the Flyers recent history when talking about Nolan Patrick, Ryan Ellis. I am concerned with Jamie Drysdale not reaching his full potential. I’m worried about size. I’m worried about injury. It’s just been the Flyers way lately.
- roenick97

Your worried about his size? This has been discussed, he is the same size of Makar. Is Makar size an issue or do you just want female dog about thr Flyers?

Not sure I agree with that. There's really not a player on that list that has a high probability of being that #1 defenseman the Flyers really need. They really need two top pairing defenseman for the future. Maybe Drysdale can be one of them but all the others. Seems to me their upside is 2nd pairing level. If there is a stud defenseman available to the Flyers, which is doubtful where they'll likely be drafting. They should take that player if he is BPA.
- MJL

The thing that concerns me is Drysdale is another small defenseman, along with York and Andrae. Zamula is tall but not physical. Sanheim has size but is also not physical. The Flyers need to add size and physicality to their backend to counter these smaller defenseman.

The thing that concerns me is Drysdale is another small defenseman, along with York and Andrae. Zamula is tall but not physical. The Flyers need to add size and physicality to their backend to counter these smaller defenseman. That is why I don't see them trading Risto anytime soon.
- jd250

I'm not at all concerned about Drysdale's size. With the addition of Drysdale, Ristolainen is now 6th on the depth chart at best. The first opportunity the Flyers get to move Ristolainen without too much damage, they should take it.

Curious why you would disagree that by keeping it private, the agent is trying to protect his client?
- MJL

It makes him look immature, fair or not. Draft night "born to be a Flyer, a little over a year later- I want out"- explanation its a private matter. If the Flyers did not offer to burn that first year, then I would totally understand and have no issue with it. It's so private they could not even tell Briere the reason. Did they think Briere would leak the reason?
That seems like a stretch. In the end, it is done and I look fwd to watching a game involving MTL more now.

It makes him look immature, fair or not. Draft night "born to be a Flyer, a little over a year later- I want out"- explanation its a private matter. If the Flyers did not offer to burn that first year, then I would totally understand and have no issue with it. It's so private they could not even tell Briere the reason. Did they think Briere would leak the reason?
That seems like a stretch. In the end, it is done and I look fwd to watching a game involving MTL more now.
- Trox88

If his agent comes out and gets into a social media tit for tat, is that going to repair that impression or possibly make it worse? The best thing right now for Gauthier is to move on, concentrate and finish his season at BC and get ready to play for the Ducks. There is nothing to be gained from speaking out. I think we have enough information now from reliable sources that it's about the Flyers not being willing to sign him at the end of the 22/23 season.

If his agent comes out and gets into a social media tit for tat, is that going to repair that impression or possibly make it worse? The best thing right now for Gauthier is to move on, concentrate and finish his season at BU and get ready to play for the Ducks. There is nothing to be gained from speaking out. I think we have enough information now from reliable sources that it's about the Flyers not being willing to sign him at the end of the 22/23 season.
- MJL

He’s at BC (Boston College)

If his agent comes out and gets into a social media tit for tat, is that going to repair that impression or possibly make it worse? The best thing right now for Gauthier is to move on, concentrate and finish his season at BU and get ready to play for the Ducks. There is nothing to be gained from speaking out. I think we have enough information now from reliable sources that it's about the Flyers not being willing to sign him at the end of the 22/23 season.
- MJL

So Briere knew this was the reason and lied in his presser he did not know why Gauthier ended all communication. If Friedman figured this out, Briere did not figure out this out before his presser as the scenerio so he really was not lying last night. An interesting theory.

Someone text me when this saga ends

So Briere knew this was the reason and lied in his presser he did not know why Gauthier ended all communication. If Friedman figured this out, Briere did not figure out this out before his presser as the scenerio so he really was not lying last night. An interesting theory.
- Trox88

I don't think Briere lied. I think it's exactly what he said. Gauthier and his agent wouldn't speak to them at a certain point and didn't give them a reason. People are putting the pieces together and coming up with the most plausible reason with no feedback from Gauthier or his agent.

He’s at BC (Boston College)
- Dkos

Brain fart.

I don't think Briere lied. I think it's exactly what he said. Gauthier and his agent wouldn't speak to them at a certain point and didn't give them a reason. People are putting the pieces together and coming up with the most plausible reason with no feedback from Gauthier or his agent.
- MJL

n. “We definitely had conversations with Philadelphia, we had very respectable conversations with Philadelphia about it, we’ve chosen just to take the high road and leave all that information private.”

I don't think Briere lied. I think it's exactly what he said. Gauthier and his agent wouldn't speak to them at a certain point and didn't give them a reason. People are putting the pieces together and coming up with the most plausible reason with no feedback from Gauthier or his agent.
- MJL

It is, what it is at this point. My thoughts today are if Drysdale adds enough to the PP to not make it the worst ever constructed. Let's just speculate it runs at around 20 th best rest of the season. Does that get them over the hump to the playoffs? I do not think it does, but it does make me wonder.

The thing that concerns me is Drysdale is another small defenseman, along with York and Andrae. Zamula is tall but not physical. Sanheim has size but is also not physical. The Flyers need to add size and physicality to their backend to counter these smaller defenseman.
- jd250

This won’t be what the defense will look like in few years. I wouldn’t be shock if Andrae or even York is used as trade bait at some point to get a bigger higher upside.

But it’s easier to acquire defense when a team is willing to give up defense in return.

n. “We definitely had conversations with Philadelphia, we had very respectable conversations with Philadelphia about it, we’ve chosen just to take the high road and leave all that information private.”
- furio16

Notice they didn’t say when they had conversations. Could have been last summer. The agent knows this makes his client look awful and is spinning it like they are taking the high road.

At this point, who cares. Move on.

I buy all of that being the reason rather than Kevin Hayes getting in his ear.
- MJL

I agree. It is the big picture and it is not pretty.

Notice they didn’t say when they had conversations. Could have been last summer. The agent knows this makes his client look awful and is spinning it like they are taking the high road.

At this point, who cares. Move on.
- psuhockey

The Flyers knew why. If you choose to believe otherwise than that’s your prerogative.

Someone text me when this saga ends
- ClaudeFather

Texting may be old school or gone by that time.

Notice they didn’t say when they had conversations. Could have been last summer. The agent knows this makes his client look awful and is spinning it like they are taking the high road.

At this point, who cares. Move on.
- psuhockey

Exactly. It's important to understand the reported timeline. Gauthier wanted to sign with the Flyers at the tail end of last season, when his NCAA season was over and play at the end of the 22/23 season, burning off the first year of his ELC. The Flyers didn't want to do that. This pissed Gauthier off. Up until that point, the Flyers were having communication with the Gauthier camp. When the Flyers talked to Gauthier in May of 23 at the World Championships. Expecting to work out a deal with Gauthier and sign him for the current season. Gauthier or his agent, informed the Flyers that he didn't want to play for them and broke off communication. The Flyers were reportedly shocked.

n. “We definitely had conversations with Philadelphia, we had very respectable conversations with Philadelphia about it, we’ve chosen just to take the high road and leave all that information private.”
- furio16

Pierre Le Brun in The Athletic

"The world wants to know!

OK, maybe just the hockey world.

But why exactly did Cutter Gauthier decide he didn’t want to be a Philadelphia Flyer, forcing a trade?

I asked Gauthier’s rep, veteran NHL agent Kurt Overhardt, on Tuesday.

“It’s a private issue between the player and his family,” Overhardt said over the phone from Stockholm. “We definitely had conversations with Philadelphia. We had very respectable conversations with Philadelphia about it. We’ve chosen just to take the high road and leave all that information private.

“The good news is, obviously Cutter has a new opportunity with Anaheim and the Flyers were able to get really good assets for the player. So everyone just needs to move forward.”

Some of the speculation that immediately followed the trade was that the root issue was Flyers head coach John Tortorella — that perhaps Overhardt didn’t want his client to play for him.

Overhardt vehemently denied that Tortorella had any bearing whatsoever on this decision, again reiterating that it was a private matter.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet said Tuesday it could have to do with the Flyers not wanting to sign him after his 2022-23 college season, citing a team bonus overage salary cap issue.
right after Gauthier’s world juniors performance was probably as perfect timing as it got.

Could that have been interpreted by the player as a lack of faith from the organization? Or led to the relationship to sour? Remember that signing to go pro late in the season burns the first year of an NHL entry-level contract, which is enticing for many college players.

I asked Overhardt about that, and again he declined to comment.

The Flyers didn’t have more info to offer, saying Tuesday they’re still unsure why Gauthier wouldn’t sign or speak with them.

“I really don’t know,” general manager Danny Briere told The Athletic. “I kept asking Kurt over and over two questions: Why can’t we meet with them so we can at least just present our case and tell him what we’re trying to do and how we are building this team and saw Cutter being a core part of it? And the other question is: OK, if you don’t want to play in Philadelphia, can we know the reason? We couldn’t get an answer on either one.”

Huge props to Briere for not only turning lemons into lemonade but perhaps Champagne in getting 21-year-old blueliner Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick out of it. The longer this went, the less leverage Philadelphia likely had as teams found out that Gauthier wasn’t going to sign with the Flyers.

There were a few teams in the mix, but the Ducks rose to the forefront.

“We looked at teams that had good young defensemen in the range of below 23 years old,” Briere said. “We had a few targets, but it’s not very often you get a chance to get a guy like Drysdale, a 21-year-old defenseman with the high-end hockey skills that he has. So Anaheim quickly became one of the targets for us.”

Gauthier wouldn’t have become an unrestricted free agent until the summer of 2026 (after four college years), so the Flyers could have waited longer, but getting it done right after Gauthier’s world juniors performance was probably as perfect timing as it got.


“We figured with what happened at the world juniors, and how he played and the stats that he put out, we thought this might be the best opportunity to get the most out of him if he doesn’t want to play in Philadelphia,” Briere said. “We could have kept trying to get in touch with him, but if they don’t want to meet up with us and listen to our side and what we’re trying to build here, at some point you’ve got to move on and get the most out of the situation. And that’s the reason we felt this was a good time to do it.”

Still, the whole thing was frustrating, to be sure.

Flyers, prevented from talking to Cutter Gauthier, still don’t know what went wrong

“It was a disappointing process,” Briere said. “We still think it was the right pick at that time looking back. It was the right pick to make. That’s why we got the return that we got for that pick. We can sit here and feel sorry for ourselves, but nothing’s going to change.

“We’re excited with what we got. Jamie’s now our guy. And that’s super exciting. That’s the way we see it at this point. I’m glad it’s over and we can move on and make the most of it.”

Ducks GM Pat Verbeek, meanwhile, jumped all over the opportunity once he got wind of Gauthier’s availability. The fact is that Verbeek had actually tried to get Gauthier back at the 2022 draft, looking to deal for another high pick so he could select Gauthier, who went fifth to the Flyers.

We’ll look back at this trade in 10 years and debate who won it. It’s pretty rare for two blue chips to get dealt for each other this early in their respective careers.

Texting may be old school or gone by that time.
- iamscore2day

Send me a drone then brother