CUTTER GAUTHIER

Left Wing
6’2/190
Left
US National U18 Team/USDP & USNTDP Juniors/USHL

Related: Frank Nazar

Cutter Gauthier is a well-rounded forward with a deadly wrist shot. He plays a strong two-way game and also doesn’t shy away from throwing his weight around. Gauthier is having a solid season and although he hasn’t produced at quite the same rate as some of his NTDP teammates, he did put up a point per game for the US National U18 team in the USDP and also scored near a goal per game for the USNTDP Junior in the USHL. While Gauthier may never be a high-end offensive player, he is a solid player that could be a great pick near the end of the first round.

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

Strengths

1. Great skater, who makes smart reads and maintains strong positioning all over the ice to help drive possession.
2. Is willing to engage in physical play and can make plays off the wall, and is an efficient distributor who utilizes his teammates well.
3. Active player in the offensive zone, has as the ability to beat goaltenders with his powerful, accurate shot.

Areas of Improvement

1. Does not stand out in any particular skill.
2. Has a limited upside.

Scouting Report:

A Strong Skating Power forward, committed to Boston College, Gauthier is currently part of the US National Team Development Program. He has proven to be a highly versatile forward, as he shifted between center and left-wing with the U17 team, a season ago. With the U18, he has played most of the season at Left-wing and has been producing over a point per game. Gauthier is a great skater, and the combination of his size with his breakaway speed makes him a unique player in this year’s draft. Gauthier has good size and strength and is not shy about using it to create space for himself when he has the puck to drive the net; this makes him an ideal power forward. He is an exceptional player in all three zones, and his hockey smarts allow him to anticipate plays ahead of time. His shot is terrific, and he has a knack for just being able to get the shot on the net quickly and accurately. Cutter Gauthier is a well-rounded player who doesn’t have many weaknesses in his game, however, his ceiling is not as high as some other players in this draft class. I would compare Cutter Gauthier to Jamie Benn, the Captain of the Dallas Stars, who is a well-rounded player, who fits the bill of a prototypical power forward with scoring ability. Cutter Gauthier seems to be a safe pick to be selected near the end of the first round in the 2022 NHL draft because although he may not be a superstar, he will be a very solid NHL player.

Skill: Well-round forward, with great hockey smarts, and a great shot

NHL Comparison: Jamie Benn

NHL Potential: Top 6 two-way power forward

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2020-21	US National U17 Team	USDP	44	20	37
	USNTDP Juniors	USHL	32	12	21
2021-22	US National U18 Team	USDP	30	19	31
	USNTDP Juniors	USHL	9	8	8