ETHAN GAUTHIER

Right Wing
5’11/176
Right
Sherbrooke Phoenix/QMJHL

Ethan Gauthier comes from a hockey family; his father Denis played in the NHL for 11 seasons with the Calgary Flames, Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, and Los Angeles Kings. He and his brother, Kaylan currently play on the same team in the QMJHL with the Sherbrooke Phoenix, and their cousin Julien Gauthier plays for the Ottawa Senators. Gauthier had a terrific start to his 2022-23 campaign by registering seven points in five games for team Canada, and his team-leading six goals were also the best in the entire tournament. With the Sherbrooke Phoenix this season, his production doubled from the previous season, from 18 goals to 30 goals and 39 points to 69 points. Although Gauthier doesn’t have an elite skillset or a high ceiling as an NHL player, he is a relentless forechecker and often creates turnovers from his energy and puck-hounding efforts. He plays with a high level of energy, he’s very responsible in all three zones and is always the first one in the offensive zone to establish an attack. He’s got a strong shot, and great hands, and does an exceptional job at creating space for himself to attack the middle of the ice. Gauthier is still pretty raw and will need a few years to develop before he will be NHL-ready, but he definitely has the potential to be a top 9 forward in the NHL and a late 1st round pick.

Size/Strength Average
Skating Good
Shot/Scoring Great
Puckhandling Average
Physical Play Great
Offensive Play Great
Defensive Play Average
Hockey Sense Great
Competitiveness Great

Strengths

1. Gauthier got a strong shot, has great hands, and does an exceptional job at creating space for himself to attack the middle of the ice.
2. plays with a high level of energy, he’s very responsible in all three zones, and is always the first one in the offensive zone to establish an attack.
3. He’s got a ton of skill and offensive IQ. He can beat defenders one-on-one at a high rate, making creative plays in small areas.

Areas of Improvement

1. Needs to improve his skating posture and edgework.
2. Lacks high-end dynamic skills.

Scouting Report

Ethan Gauthier only had 18 goals and 39 points in 65 games last year, but his production with the Sherbrooke Phoenix in the QMJHL has doubled in 2022-23 to 30 goals and 69 points in 66 games. Gauthier was a standout performer at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, netting six goals and adding an assist in five games for Team Canada. An exceptionally relentless forechecker with decent hands in tight and lots of creativity in his game, Gauthier has a solid base of skills, with great physical habits along the boards. He’s got really good overall instincts and can find opportunities to score where others can’t. Ethan’s intensity and drive are infectious, and he has a solid shot to capitalize on the chances his intelligence and positioning create. Ethan is a lethal weapon on the powerplay and thrives playing in the high slot; he has also playing the net- front on the Powerplay. In order for him to be a top 6 forward at the next level, he’ll need to diversify both his shooting and playmaking and improve on his skating posture and edgework. With the base of skills he currently possesses, the chances of him sticking in the lineup on an NHL roster are pretty high because of his abilities as a three-zone player and because he is such a threat on the powerplay. Even if he isn’t able to be an established scorer at the NHL level, he could be an effective bottom 6 forward at the NHL level. An NHL Comparison for Gautheir is Brady Tkachuk, who Ethan thrives to model his game after. Ethan Gauthier projects as a safe middle-six forechecking forward, but could very well develop into a top-six staple with the right work at the right places.