Cutter Gauthier Explains Why He Missed Flyers Development Camp

It was surprising when Philadelphia Flyers top prospect Cutter Gauthier didn’t show up for Development Camp earlier this month in Voorhees.

It was even more surprising when Philadelphia Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said he didn’t know why Gauthier passed on the camp.

Gauthier, the Flyers’ fifth overall pick in the 2022 draft, explained to NHL.com why he missed camp.

“Was a little bit too much hockey after Worlds,” Gauthier said Sunday. “Just too much for me. I wanted time with the family. So I figured it was best to stay home.

“After talking to Danny, obviously it wasn’t his favorite thing, but it was best for me.

“After this year, hopefully we get done pretty late there in April with the group we have [at Boston College], but overall that’s [joining the Flyers] the goal.

“I feel like I could play in the National Hockey League tomorrow, but my decision to come back for another year was lots of time and hours talking to family, talking to coaches and all that stuff for the best decision for me.”

International Schedule

Gauthier, 19, played 49 games this past season — a 32-game schedule at Boston College; seven games at the World Juniors U-20 Championships in Canada in December and January; and 10 games in the World Championships in May in Finland and Latvia.

Gauthier currently is playing in the World Junior Summer Showcase in Michigan. The Showcase is a four-game round-robin tournament meant for players to audition for placement on their nation’s World Juniors team that will compete at the end of the year.

He will be a sophomore at Boston College in the fall.

At the time, Briere said about Gauthier’s absence at Development Camp: 

“Cutter was invited, declined to come. We’re assuming that is because he has played a lot of hockey with the World Championship, lots of travel. So, we’re not too worried about that.

“We’ll find out a little bit more. We’re trying to figure out why he didn’t want to come. But at this point, I’m not too worried about that.”