When you go to an interview, you tell the employers that you really believe in their company, their mission, their personnel, their culture. Everyone does it. Whether they believe it or not.

Does that mean you can't leave if you feel you want a change?
- PT21

Does that company own the "work" rights to you? That would have to be present for the analogy to be on even footing.

I know this is a silly way to be, but part of me feels really betrayed after rooting for Cutter at the WJC's thinking he was going to be with us in the near future. I feel like a schmuck who got cheated on. Especially now in hindsight after hearing that the ship had sailed long before the tourney even started.

- MBFlyerfan

so true

The current CBA gives a drafted player the right to not sign with the team that drafted them, and Gauthier is certainly not the first player to refuse to sign. In turn the team has the right to keep that player for 4 years before they can become a free agent. The Flyers could have played hardball here, but they didn't.

I have no doubt the kid's discontentment is real, otherwise his refusal to sign with the Flyers would make no sense, and he doesn't have to share with anyone his reasons. But he should! At least to the Flyers he owes them an explanation. If the Flyers did something wrong he should tell them so they don't repeat the same mistake. If the Flyers did nothing wrong, and he just doesn't to play for them he should tell them. But for him to disrespect an organization, a fan base, hall of famers that came to see him and talk to him, is unacceptable and points to a clear character flaw. Like I said yesterday, good riddens!
- jd250

That would be like cutting your nose to spite your face. That would be a lose-lose strategy.

Oh when did I say the Flyers did anything wrong in trying to meet with the kid? I am sorry if I gave that impression. I think the Flyers were right to try. I think the agent was right to avoid.
- PT21

Your girlfriend breakup analogy gave me the impression that you felt the Flyers were being silly (or not facing reality) when they kept trying to contact Cutter's side.

The current CBA gives a drafted player the right to not sign with the team that drafted them, and Gauthier is certainly not the first player to refuse to sign. In turn the team has the right to keep that player for 4 years before they can become a free agent. The Flyers could have played hardball here, but they didn't.

I have no doubt the kid's discontentment is real, otherwise his refusal to sign with the Flyers would make no sense, and he doesn't have to share with anyone his reasons. But he should! At least to the Flyers he owes them an explanation. If the Flyers did something wrong he should tell them so they don't repeat the same mistake. If the Flyers did nothing wrong, and he just doesn't to play for them he should tell them. But for him to disrespect an organization, a fan base, hall of famers that came to see him and talk to him, is unacceptable and points to a clear character flaw. Like I said yesterday, good riddens!
- jd250

You're overall premise is correct in my opinion. I'll just share that neither LeClair or Sharp are in the HOF.

Kimmo Timonen to me is the standard. One I’m not so sure Drysdale could reach because Kimmo could do it all. So far I’ve heard Drysdale has great offensive instincts but little is said about his own end. I do expect him to have a more balanced game than Ghost or Provorov.

What I don't want is for Jamie Drysdale to become Kris Letang. Now I know at least 2 guys on here will be itching to call me an idiot, he has 3 cups, we'd be lucky if Drysdale became that good, etc. I just don't like Kris Letang. Brad Marchand undressed Letang in the middle of Boston garden last week and pointed at his little nuts after a goal and I was so happy. I hate that guy and I’m not a fan of his game.
- roenick97

The kid has no urgency defensively. I’m expecting many scratches until he hopefully gets it

Sorry, trying to understand. How did he benefit? His stature was built by him. His finances were not changed.

Mid case? Mid deal? Those are contractual liabilities for them. I wouldn't want explanations. I would want compensation.

I would like to present you with one speculative reason why they did not mention a reason (if they really didn't). Maybe there were multiple reasons, leading to a complete lack of faith in the franchise itself. Mentioning that, to a organization who holds your rights, might serve no purpose than making them vengeful and angry. They take their revenge by shipping you to Arizona.

Let me ask you something: Why do you want to know the reason why so bady if not to change a mind (already made up)? How is it important? In many such cases, people lie anyway and say what the aggrieved party wants to hear.
- PT21

When the Flyers decided to trade Gauthier, what do you think influenced their decision making on who to trade with? The best deal they could get for their franchise? Or were they going to try and send him to the worst place they could to get retribution? Let's be real here.

Perhaps once Cutter start his NHL career, his reason for not wanting to sign with the Flyers will come to light. Until that happens I'm happy to remain Switzerland about it.

The trade caught everyone by surprise—even long-time NHL insiders.

I have no problem with what Torts, Briere, and Jones said Monday night. The CEO of the Flyers talking smack on the kid was very cringe, inappropriate, and bush league AF IMO.

I'll ask the same question I asked to another poster. Why do 99.9% or whatever of players drafted, if they're good enough to get offered a contract, sign with the team that drafted them? Why do players feel an obligation to the team that drafted them?
- MJL

Because almost all players are just happy to play in the NHL and will play for whatever team drafted them.

Sorry, trying to understand. How did he benefit? His stature was built by him. His finances were not changed.

Mid case? Mid deal? Those are contractual liabilities for them. I wouldn't want explanations. I would want compensation.

I would like to present you with one speculative reason why they did not mention a reason (if they really didn't). Maybe there were multiple reasons, leading to a complete lack of faith in the franchise itself. Mentioning that, to a organization who holds your rights, might serve no purpose than making them vengeful and angry. They take their revenge by shipping you to Arizona.

Let me ask you something: Why do you want to know the reason why so bady if not to change a mind (already made up)? How is it important? In many such cases, people lie anyway and say what the aggrieved party wants to hear.
- PT21

Agents use draft order in negotiations for a second contract. Plus the Flyers brought him to his first prospect camp on their dime giving him instructions on improving his game at the professional level.

I don’t care the reason. I don’t even care about the player as I think the Flyers might be way better off after the trade as far as building a Stanley Cup contender. However refusing to talk to the new management who owns his rights is unprofessional IMO. I think most would agree but it’s fine if you think different.

Your girlfriend breakup analogy gave me the impression that you felt the Flyers were being silly (or not facing reality) when they kept trying to contact Cutter's side.
- Dkos

You may not like cross-pollination but it is a thing. What happens in other sports sooner or later applies more broadly. He was willing to sign apparently and we deferred it, apparently contradicting the timeline discussed before the draft. This decision cost him some $$. He came out of it deciding that he had a problem with the organization. A narrative along those lines is not unreasonable. We may not like it but calling him lots of names and using it gore a former player sucks. Not saying that you are doing to owe things but the reaction to this by fanbase and media more broadly is all lower brain stem.
- iamscore2day

I disagree that it was not unreasonable. It is actually petty. Again, NHL teams all the time make decisions on who to sign and for how much. It may have been stupid but the Flyers not being willing to sign him at the end of the 22/23 season is not so egregious to cause a player not to play for you.

That would be like cutting your nose to spite your face. That would be a lose-lose strategy.
- PT21

It potentially could've of but it could've also forced Gauthier's hand to sign. He's already lost millions and sitting out two more year would cost him even more that he could never get back. I'm not recommending that approach because it causes bad blood.

You're overall premise is correct in my opinion. I'll just share that neither LeClair or Sharp are in the HOF.
- MJL

Yes, not the NHL HOF, but I was referring to:

John LeClair was inducted into the University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Flyers Hall of Fame in 2014.

We have rumors and some facts about how it went down but not all the facts. Cutter was well within his rights to do what he did and the way he did it. It’s business.

If Cutter’s agent made it clear that he didn’t want to be a Flyer then they should have honored that. Employees should be asking his agent for a meeting not trying to circumvent their way to Cutter. Jones and Briere don’t get any sympathy points for going to Sweden without
asking his agent for a meeting before getting on the plane. Then crying and scapegoating Cutter as the bad guy for not meeting them. Aww poor Jonesy and Briere.

I imagine GMs In Minnesota and Winnipeg and Canada would like to see the loophole closed. GMs in NY and LA not so much.

Your girlfriend breakup analogy gave me the impression that you felt the Flyers were being silly (or not facing reality) when they kept trying to contact Cutter's side.
- Dkos

oh no, no. Sorry. I think the Flyers did what anyone would have done, what they should have done. Sending Leclair and Sharp to a BC game was pretty funny, and somewhat poignant, but worth a shot, sure.

What I do hold against them is trying to spin this contractual matter into a "no one who bleed anything other than black and orange ever puts on black and orange" kinda shtick. That one was profoundly annoying because it was one more instance of ham-handed manipulativeness from what is frankly a deceitful and duplicitous organization, which largely functions as a programming appendage for a media company. I mean, give me a effing break.

Having said that, I am guessing CG and agent probably laughed for a good hour at those comments, so there is that.

Yes, not the NHL HOF, but I was referring to:

John LeClair was inducted into the University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001, the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Flyers Hall of Fame in 2014.
- jd250

What HOF is Sharp in?

Perhaps once Cutter start his NHL career, his reason for not wanting to sign with the Flyers will come to light. Until that happens I'm happy to remain Switzerland about it.

The trade caught everyone by surprise—even long-time NHL insiders.

I have no problem with what Torts, Briere, and Jones said Monday night. The CEO of the Flyers talking smack on the kid was very cringe, inappropriate, and bush league AF IMO.
- Pixote Andolini

I listened to the interview and thought he didn’t say anything bad. What did he say?

"The family is taking the high road by keeping it private."


This statement bothers me. And it is the reason why I want to know the reason why. Because to me, short of the FO stating they wanted to run a train on Quitters mother, I cant imagine what "high road" they could be taking that drove this kid to cut off all communication with the organization and say he wasn't playing there.

So please, tell us what high road you are travelling so we can rightfully rip our own organization for doing something that would lead to this. And it had better be a pretty high road....

Perhaps once Cutter start his NHL career, his reason for not wanting to sign with the Flyers will come to light. Until that happens I'm happy to remain Switzerland about it.

The trade caught everyone by surprise—even long-time NHL insiders.

I have no problem with what Torts, Briere, and Jones said Monday night. The CEO of the Flyers talking smack on the kid was very cringe, inappropriate, and bush league AF IMO.
- Pixote Andolini

Couldn't Briere have just said we made a move that we feel will make our team better in the long run and leave it at that?

I don't follow prospects so I don't know which player is supposed to have a brighter future, but just getting a high end D prospect would have been enough to appease most fans.

While Danny didn't say anything personal about the kid, it lead to others like Bundy to be a complete douchebag.

Couldn't Briere have just said we made a move that we feel will make our team better in the long run and leave it at that?

I don't follow prospects so I don't know which player is supposed to have a brighter future, but just getting a high end D prospect would have been enough to appease most fans.

While Danny didn't say anything personal about the kid, it lead to others like Bundy to be a complete douchebag.
- rayc16

No, there is no way the media or the fan base would have let them get away with such an empty explanation.

We have rumors and some facts about how it went down but not all the facts. Cutter was well within his rights to do what he did and the way he did it. It’s business.

If Cutter’s agent made it clear that he didn’t want to be a Flyer then they should have honored that. Employees should be asking his agent for a meeting not trying to circumvent their way to Cutter. Jones and Briere don’t get any sympathy points for going to Sweden without
asking his agent for a meeting before getting on the plane. Then crying and scapegoating Cutter as the bad guy for not meeting them. Aww poor Jonesy and Briere.

I imagine GMs In Minnesota and Winnipeg and Canada would like to see the loophole closed. GMs in NY and LA not so much.
- Minnyhock

Some important factors here. The Flyers did try and ask for a meeting. Apparently numerous times and the Gauthier camp would not respond and cut off all communication after the junior World Championship in 2023. Jones and Briere wen to Sweden out of desperation to try and talk to the player.

I'm going to ask you the same question I've asked a number of other posters and they don't seem to want to answer. Why do 99.9% of players who are good enough to get offered a contract, sign with the team that drafted them? If it is a business and it's well within their rights not to sign, why don't we see many players taking this option? Why do players clearly seem to feel obligated to sign with the team that drafted them?

"The family is taking the high road by keeping it private."


This statement bothers me. And it is the reason why I want to know the reason why. Because to me, short of the FO stating they wanted to run a train on Quitters mother, I cant imagine what "high road" they could be taking that drove this kid to cut off all communication with the organization and say he wasn't playing there.

So please, tell us what high road you are travelling so we can rightfully rip our own organization for doing something that would lead to this. And it had better be a pretty high road....
- MBFlyerfan

Some important factors here. The Flyers did try and ask for a meeting. Apparently numerous times and the Gauthier camp would not respond and cut off all communication after the junior World Championship in 2023. Jones and Briere wen to Sweden out of desperation to try and talk to the player.

I'm going to ask you the same question I've asked a number of other posters and they don't seem to want to answer. Why do 99.9% of players who are good enough to get offered a contract, sign with the team that drafted them? If it is a business and it's well within their rights not to sign, why don't we see many players taking this option? Why do players clearly seem to feel obligated to sign with the team that drafted them?
- MJL

It was after the mens World championships in 2023.

Some important factors here. The Flyers did try and ask for a meeting. Apparently numerous times and the Gauthier camp would not respond and cut off all communication after the junior World Championship in 2023. Jones and Briere wen to Sweden out of desperation to try and talk to the player.

I'm going to ask you the same question I've asked a number of other posters and they don't seem to want to answer. Why do 99.9% of players who are good enough to get offered a contract, sign with the team that drafted them? If it is a business and it's well within their rights not to sign, why don't we see many players taking this option? Why do players clearly seem to feel obligated to sign with the team that drafted them?
- MJL

Culture and money. You lose face and money not signing asap with that team.