Draft Running Blog: Flyers Select Gauthier 5th overall
Learn all you need to know about the Flyers first round pick, Cutter Gauthier
PLAYER PROFILE
Born in Sweden, where his Canadian-born father, Sean, was a goaltender for Skellefteå AIK, Gauthier's mother, Kim, is a Reading, PA native and he still has relatives in the area. Because of his mom, he grew up as a Flyers fan despite growing up in Scottdale, Arizona. He played his youth hockey in the famed Honeybaked program.
More importantly, Gauthier checks off a combination of boxes in his scouting profile -- good size plus powerful skating, a very quick shot release, a willingness and ability to battle for pucks and get to the net, strong character, two-way upside as an all-situations player and the potential to either play left wing or center.
Gauthier has primarily played left wing so far in his career but moved to the middle for the US National Team Development Program when teammate Logan Cooley (selected third overall by the Arizona Coyotes) was away with the U.S. National Under-20 team. He is expected to at least start out at center with Boston College, although he could eventually wind up primarily on wing or being a swingman depending upon his linemates. The main question mark with Gauthier at center is whether he'll refine his puckhandling and distributing skills.
Gauthier was a second-half riser in many Draft rankings, and wound up fifth on Bob McKenzie's final rankings list and seventh on Craig Button's list. Button compared Gauthier's playing style and developmental ceiling to be comparable to that of longtime NHL forward Max Pacioretty. Gauthier was ranked third on Central Scouting's final North American skater rankings. McKeen's used ex-Flyer center/winger Jeff Carter as its stylistic comparison player for Gauthier.
FAST FACTS
* Gauthier scored a combined 34 goals and 64 points in a total of 54 games for the USNTDP in 2021-22 including 19 goals and 28 points in 22 games against USHL competition.
* He served as an alternate captain for Team USA at the Under-18 World Championship tournament. Although he wasn't at his absolute best in the tourney, Gauthier posted nine points (3g, 6a) in six games for the silver-medal winning team.
* Gauthier started out with the USNTDP junior program in 2020-21, scoring 20 goals in 44 games for the Under-17 squad..
* The NHL amateur scouts polled by Recrutes for their 2022 Draft Guide ranked Gauthier in the top three in the best shooter category in the Draft class, and number five in the most competitive player category.
* At the 2022 NHL Draft Combine, Gauthier finished in the top 10 five different physical testing categories including winning the 30-second Wingateergometer bike test with a peak power output of 18.3 watts per kilogram of body weight .
SCOUTING REPORT
"This year's USNTDP crop of players is one of the better ones I've ever seen. A competitive group of players and a lot of skill....Cutter Gauthier has good size, good feet and is one of the best shooters in this Draft. That's not an easy combination of traits to find, which is why I think he'll be selected fairly early in the first round.'
-- Craig Button
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QUOTABLE
"It's such a surreal moment. It's everything I dreamed of growing up, hearing my name called someday, and I'm so happy that the Philadelphia Flyers are the ones to do it. So I'm super excited for the future, and I'll see what it holds."
"I'm extremely versatile where I can play, left and right wing or center, if that's the case. I displayed my message to the Philadelphia Flyers that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. If that's on the wing, if that's in center, I'm willing to do whatever."
-- Cutter Gauthier
ALEX BUMP- 5th Round (133rd Overall)
POSITION: Left Wing
TEAM/LEAGUE: Omaha Lancers (USHL)
VITALS: 6'0", 195 lbs.
BIRTHDATE: November 20, 2023
BIRTHPLACE: Prior Lake, Minnesota
SHOOTS: Left
PLAYER PROFILE
Bump split the 2021-22 season between the high school level in his native Minnesota and the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. At the USHL
He will spend the 2022-23 season in the USHL with Omaha, where his role is expected to expand from last season. Bump has a goal-scoring touch and can score from distance.
Starting in 2023-24, Bump will attend the University of Vermont. The Flyers will hold the 2023 late birthday player's NHL rights for a maximum of the next five years. He will have plenty of time to develop.
FAST FACTS
* Bump captained the Prior Lake (Minnesota) High School team where he scored 48 goals in 31 games; third best among all Minnesota high schoolers in 2021-22 despite spending about half the season in the USHL with Omaha.
* With Omaha, Bump added 11 goals and 17 points in 27 regular season games this past season. He added two goals and three points in four USHL playoff games.
* He was ranked 63rd among North American skaters by Central Scouting, 91st overall by McKeen's and 114th overall by Recrutes.
SCOUTING REPORT
"[Bump] is a skilled sniper who needs to 'bump up' his compete level."
-- Grant McCagg, former Montreal Canadiens scout, 2022 Recrutes Draft Guide
HUNTER MCDONALD -- 6th Round (165th overall)
POSITION: Defenseman
TEAM/LEAGUE: Chicago Steel ( USHL)
VITALS: 6'3", 207 lbs.
BIRTHDATE: May. 11, 2002
BIRTHPLACE: Fairport, NY
SHOOTS: Left
PLAYER PROFILE
A late-blooming product of the Buffalo Jr. Sabres program, the 20-year-old defenseman has played the last two seasons at the USHL level. He is headed for Northeastern University as a freshman in 2022-23.
He is a defensive-minded defenseman with good size, and a physical edge to his game. Also has a heavy shot but does not project as a power play type.
FAST FACTS
* Posted 10 points (3g, 7a) in 33 games for Omaha and four points (1g, 3a) in 21 games for Chicago during the 2021-22 season. Dressed in three USHL playoff games for the Steel.
* The heavy-hitting defenseman racked up 96 penalty minutes in 36t games for Omaha in 2020-21 and a combined 87 PIM in 54 games for Omaha/Chicago this past season.
* McDonald said that he models his game after Brandon Carlo.
SCOUTING REPORT
"He knows what he is and what he has to do to succeed. Good frame, decent feet and plays with a lot of jam. Keeps things simple and has high compete."
-- NHL Eastern Conference Scout
SANTERI SULKU -- 7th Round (165th overall)
POSITION: Left Wing/ Center
TEAM/LEAGUE: Jokerit J20 (U-20 SM-Sarja)
VITALS: 6'4", 194 lbs.
BIRTHDATE: Jun. 13, 2004
BIRTHPLACE: Helsinki, Finland
SHOOTS: Left
PLAYER PROFILE
Born in Helsinki but raised partially in neighboring Sweden, Sulku played at the U16 to U18 levels in the Brynäs IF Gävle junior system. He returned to Helsinki in 2020 and spent the last two seasons in the Jokerit junior chain for their U18 and U20 teams. Come next season, he will be back in Sweden to play for the Modo Hockey Örnsköldsvik J20 team.
Sulku is a huge-framed and raw talent but he has a good touch around the net and competes. He did not play for Finland's national team at the U18 World Championships in 2022 but did get into four preceding international tournament games, chipping in one goal and one assist.
FAST FACTS
* Santeri is the son of Sebastian Sulku, who had a 12-year professional career as an offensive-minded defenseman in the top pro leagues in Finland and Sweden. The younger Sulku is much taller than his dad but both have a thick frame. Sebastian Sulku played at about 210 pounds on a 5-foot-11 frame. Santeri, a forward, also projects to add muscular weight to his 6-foot-4 frame.
* As a teenager living in Sweden, Sulku played for the Gstrikland district team in the famous TV-Puck tournament. He also played internationally for the Finland Selects Team, starting at the age of 12.
\Sulku physically overmatched competition at the domestic U18 level with Jokerit, racking up 10 goals and 17 points in 11 games during the 2020-21 season before moving up their J20 team. With the J20 team in 2021-22, he posted 13 goals and 32 points in 35 regular season games and had a goal and an assist in two playoff matches.
\ He was ranked No. 54 among European skaters by Central Scouting for 2022 Draft-eligible players. McKeen's Hockey ranked him 206th overall.
ALEXIS GENDRON -- 7th Round (220th overall)
POSITION: Center/ Right Wing
TEAM/LEAGUE: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
VITALS: 5'9", 174 lbs.
BIRTHDATE:Dec..30, 2003
BIRTHPLACE: Côteau-du-Lac, Quebec
SHOOTS: Left
PLAYER PROFILE
A late 2003 birth-year player who rose from the junior A level in Quebec and came into his own in the QMJHL this season for Bruce Richardson's Blainville-Boisbriand club, Gendron tallied 30 goals to lead his team in 2022-23. He's always known how to finish plays. Most notably, he had a 54-goal season in 30 games of midget hockey for É. Sec. Du Chêne-Bleu. Gendron broke into the QMJHL level for the Armada in 2020-21 (nine goals, 14 points in 31 games) and saw his role expand this past season.
FAST FACTS
* Alexis' father is former NHL player Martin Gendron, who has been a Quebec-based amateur scout for the Flyers for several years.
* Alexis posted 46 points (30g, 16a) in 66 games for Blainville-Boisbriand in 2022-23; tops on the team in goals and one point behind Oleksii Myklukha for the overall scoring lead on the club.
* In six games during the 2022 President's Cup (QMJHL championship) playoffs, Gendron scored four goals and added one assist for five points.
* He was ranked No. 141 by Central Scouting among North American skaters eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. McKeen's ranked Gendron 71st overall among all draft-eligible players.
