TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed forward Ethan Gauthier to a three-year, entry level contract, vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced today.
Gauthier, 18, was selected by Tampa Bay, 37th overall, in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft, a selection the Lightning acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for forward Ross Colton. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound winger has skated in 28 games as an alternate captain with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this season and has registered 13 goals and 30 points.
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, but also a Canadian national, Gauthier is in his third QMJHL season and has accumulated 61 goals and 138 points over 159 games between the Sherbrooke Phoenix and Voltigeurs. Gauthier skated in 11 QMJHL playoff games with Sherbrooke in each of the last two seasons, recording five goals and 15 points over 22 games.
Gauthier will continue to play for Drummondville for the remainder of the season.
