Why would the Flyers trade one of their top prospects? Inside the Cutter Gauthier trade
-
Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
The Philadelphia Flyers traded forward Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night in exchange for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round selection in the 2025 NHL draft.
It was a straightforward transaction. How the Flyers ended up dealing one of their top prospects is a bit more complicated — and contentious.
Let’s piece together some answers to the many burning questions that persist after Monday’s shocking trade.
Who is Cutter Gauthier?
Let’s start with his almost-too-awesome-for-hockey name.
Gauthier’s father, Sean, finished his pro hockey career playing for Skelleftea in Sweden. That’s where Cutter Gauthier was born. He said his grandmother found the word “Cutter” in a Swedish cookbook, and it stuck with his parents. His full name is William Cutter Ruel Gauthier. But he goes by Cutter. Who wouldn’t?
In 2022, Gauthier was one of the most highly touted forward prospects in the NHL draft, coming from the U.S. National Development Team. At 6-foot-2, he can play all three forward positions and was projected to be an effective goal-scorer. But he was also praised for his defensive acumen.
The Flyers selected the 18-year-old fifth overall.
Gauthier played the 2022-23 season for Boston College, with 37 points in 32 games, and has 23 points in 17 games for the Eagles this season. He most recently helped the U.S. capture world junior tournament gold in Sweden, leading the team with 12 points in seven games.
That tournament was a tantalizing performance for Flyers fans, who watched one of their franchise cornerstones of the future excel on the international stage.
Little did they know that Gauthier had already decided he wasn’t going to be part of the Flyers’ future.
Why was Cutter Gauthier traded?
NEW YORK — Dan Iassogna will be the umpire crew chief and work the plate during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Atlanta’s Truist Park.
His crew will include Marvin Hudson at first, Chris Segal at second, Jansen Visconti at third, Jeremie Rehak in left and Erich Bacchus in right, Major League Baseball said Thursday.
Iassogna, 56, will work his second All-Star Game. He was at third base for the 2011 game at Arizona.
He worked his first big league game in 1999, was hired to the major league staff in 2004 and appointed a crew chief ahead of the 2020 season. Iassogna umpired the World Series in 2012, ’17 and ’22 along with eight League Championship Series and seven Division Series.
Segal, Visconti, Rehak and Bacchus will work their first All-Star Games and Hudson his second after being in left field in 2004 at Houston.
Tony Randazzo will be the replay umpire in New York.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is adding his name to the list of Home Run Derby participants.
Rooker announced Thursday that he’s participating in the event, which takes place Monday in Atlanta. He will become the first Athletics player in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021.
“Competing in the Home Run Derby has always been a dream of mine,” Rooker said in an Instagram post. “Can’t wait to make it happen next week in Atlanta! See ya there!”
Rooker, 30, entered Thursday with a .270 batting average, 19 homers and 50 RBIs, putting him on pace for a third straight season of at least 30 homers. He went deep 30 times in 2023 and had 39 homers in 2024.
His 58 homers since the start of the 2024 season rank him third among all American League players.
The only A’s to win the Derby were Mark McGwire in 1992 and Yoenis Céspedes in 2013 and 2014.
Other announced participants include Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Washington’s James Wood.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike