Flyers and Ducks complete a blockbuster trade

After winning the gold medal for the United States at the World Juniors and leading the tournament with 12 points, the Philadelphia Flyers shockingly traded prospect Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second round pick.

The Flyers drafted Gauthier with the 5th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The youngster quickly entrenched himself as one of the top prospects in the sport after a strong season with Boston College in 2022-23 where he scored 16 goals and 37 points in 32 games. He added 10 points at the World Juniors and another 7 goals and 9 points at the World Championships.

This season he performed even better with 13 goals and 23 points in 17 games before the World Juniors, where he tallied another 12 points for the gold medallist American squad.

There were rumblings during the summer that Gauthier wasn't entirely too happy about the Flyers situation after he refused to report to a developmental camp. It was claimed at the time that he was resting due to the amount of hockey he had played for Boston College and Team USA.


However Elliotte Friedman's latest report would make you think otherwise now because he refused to meet with Flyers brass while at this year's World Junior Championship and essentially let the new front office know he had no interest in playing for the Flyers.

In exchange, the Flyers acquired Drysdale who was drafted 6th overall in 2020 by the Ducks. In an injury-riddled start to his career, the youngster has only suited up in 18 games between 2022-23 and 2023-24 but did pot 32 points in 81 games during his official rookie season in 2021-22.

Drysdale has been limited to just 10 games this season but returned from a lengthy absence in the middle of December. He has 5 points on the season and should immediately bolster the Flyers blueline.