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IRVINE, Calif. — The final week of the NHL regular season provided Cutter Gauthier a glimpse into his future with the Anaheim Ducks.

What he saw left an impression on the 20-year-old left wing.

Gauthier expressed during the opening day of development camp earlier this month that his six-day stay felt like a whole year.

Gauthier’s rapid introduction to the NHL commenced right after his time at Boston College concluded with a defeat of 2-0 against Denver in the NCAA championship game on April 13.

The day after, he inked a contract with the Ducks, securing an entry-level deal for three years. Soon after, he made his way to Anaheim, where he received a warm and welcoming reception.

Gauthier expressed that despite being the newcomer, his new teammates were anything but strangers. He mentioned that they warmly extended their greetings, congratulated him on his season, and eagerly expressed their anticipation to meet him.

After participating in two complete practices with the Ducks, Gauthier finally made his NHL debut during the last game of the regular season on April 18 against the Vegas Golden Knights. Notably, he assisted in scoring the game-winning goal in the 4-1 victory.

According to Ducks coach Greg Cronin, Gauthier possesses excellent hand skills, impressive vision, and an impressive burst of speed. Gauthier, who stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 189 pounds, is well-regarded by the coach.

Six months ago, Gauthier was traded to the Ducks by the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 8 for 22-year-old defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The trade took place after Gauthier, the No. 5 pick by Philadelphia in the 2022 NHL Draft, decided he did not want to play for the Flyers, a decision he said was “a personal matter.”

Last season, Gauthier was the leading goal scorer in the NCAA, tallying an impressive 38 goals in just 41 games. Additionally, he secured the second position in terms of points, accumulating a total of 65 (including 27 assists). His remarkable performance earned him a spot as a finalist for the prestigious Hobey Baker Award, which recognizes the top men’s hockey player in the NCAA.

Despite having already played an NHL game, Gauthier chose not to skip the development camp as he couldn’t resist the chance to connect with fellow young players within the system.

During the first day of development camp, Gauthier exhibited his maturity, as noted by Matt McIlvane, coach of San Diego, the American Hockey League affiliate of Anaheim.

According to McIlvane, Cutter immediately expressed his desire to be a leader for those who were participating in camp for the first time. McIlvane commended him for taking on such a responsibility right from the start, especially considering his recent arrival in the organization.

Regarding his development on the ice, Gauthier mentioned that he is focusing on all areas, but his primary focus is preparing himself for the physical and mental challenges of a lengthy season.

He stated that he has never participated in a full 82-game season before, except maybe in his youth hockey days. However, he has never experienced anything close to the intensity of the NHL. Consequently, he emphasized the importance of preparing himself mentally and physically during the upcoming summer, which is the most significant aspect he anticipates.