Flyers Trade
Flyers GM Briere Exposes Gauthier Behavior as Reason for Jamie Drysdale Trade
The Philadelphia Flyers made a shocking move on Monday, trading top prospect Cutter Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick. However, it wasn’t much of a surprise for Flyers GM Danny Briere, who said the move was a long time coming. Gauthier was the de facto reason for the Jamie Drysdale trade.
According to Briere, Gauthier was not communicating with the Flyers, dating back to the 2023 World Junior Championship. He also explained that this was the reason Gauthier was not present for the Flyers’ Development Camp, but nothing was made of it in order to protect Gauthier from the media. The Flyers GM was disappointed as he expected Gauthier to play in Philadelphia, but remarked that now was the time to make a move.
Gauthier did not engage Briere or Keith Jones when the two traveled to Sweden last week to meet with him, perhaps even change his mind.
“It’s been a long time. It’s been going on for a while,” Briere said. “We tried to give him space, tried to get in touch many times. (The Gauthier side) would not communicate. We had to make a decision, and we thought with what happened a few days ago, this was probably our time to get the highest value.”
Briere is referring to Gauthier’s standout performance for Team USA in their gold-medal win.
The Flyers’ trade landed them a potentially premier defenseman, whom Briere was obviously thrilled to get. The former Flyers star mentioned that he sees Drysdale in the same conversation as Michkov and that he can be the team’s No. 1 defenseman in the long term.
“In our mind, at first, we said we have to protect him because if he changes his mind again, and it’s out there that he doesn’t want to play, it would be difficult to put the uniform on,” explained Briere. “When we realized he refused to talk to us, it’s been months, and he didn’t want to be a Flyer, didn’t want to be in Philadelphia, it was time to make it happen.”
Drysdale, 21, is in the first year of a three-year, $6.9 million contract he signed in October. Briere also stated that he’s not quite sure yet where Drysdale fits into the Flyers lineup and that there will be an adjustment period when he arrives in Philadelphia.
“It’s not very often you find a Jamie Drysdale that you can add to your lineup. When that came about — when his name was made available — we got really excited. The chance to add a player of his caliber to a premium position, a right-shot defenseman for a left-winger, made a lot of sense, and we felt it was the right time to do it.”
Lastly, Briere added that Drysdale would be a great fit in the Flyers’ locker room and that everyone he talked to raved about Drysdale’s character. All the players in the room care deeply about each other, and Briere believes that his new defenseman fits that mold perfectly. The Flyers clearly see Drysdale as the elite talent that he was drafted to be, and now it’s about putting that on the ice.
But why didn’t Gauthier want to be a Flyer?
“I don’t know. We never got an answer,” replied Briere.
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Gauthier better keep his head up skating through the neutral zone at the Wells Fargo Center.
And every time he touches the puck the boos will come raining down. Bleep him !!!
How long did we have Gauthier’s rights as I would have called his bluff. He had no leverage until 2026 right? I still think the Flyers got good value in the trade, but the upside on Gauthier is something to watch over the next 5 years.
Normally I would agree with you, but the Flyers can’t afford that kind of drama during this rebuild. Danny B did the right thing in trading him and getting him out of here. If he would have played hardball with Gauthier it just would of gotten ugly. This organization needs to focus more on the positive right now.
Great response.
I loved Tortorella’s comment that “you don’t want to be here then we don’t want you”.
Whining teenager who already thinks he’s good enough to dictate where he plays. There’s been many players who could score in college then did nothing in the NHL. Cutter had zero points in the gold-medal game. Good time to disappear, junior. Enjoy the last place team and high taxes in California.
He apparently was good enough to dictate where he plays though? There is plenty of history on players within the Top 5 of various sports drafts that have done the same thing. It’s nothing new and basically just a part of the business. It always sucks when its your team, but it is what it is.
No, he hasn’t proven anything yet beyond the college level and in competition with other 18-20 year-olds. Big deal. Just because other high picks in various sports have done this does not make it ethical. You place yourself into the draft, you should be open to the result. Plus, he told the Flyers he wanted to be a Flyer then decided he didn’t, refusing to communicate with the Flyers along the way. Not ethical. He didn’t dictate where he plays because we traded his immature self to a last place team in California. Good riddance.
Was it the Flyers he did not want….or was it Torts?
I am suspecting Tort’s reputation scared him away.
Someone commented on another article that Gauthier was close to Kevin Hayes. If this is accurate, it could explain alot about why he didn’t want to come to Philly. Just as well; if he thinks playing for a certain coach would be too tough, he’s not someone we want.
I heard the kevin hayes reference also,it is something that hayes was in the (doghouse) here and not doing too well and he goes out to st.louis and he is still not doing that well.Mr prima donna should call j.d.(boo) i mean drew and ask him how it went when he came back to philly the first time.I would not recommend throwing batteries at gauthier,that would be a waste of batteries.It will also be interesting in the next few years to see who has more success and how long they can sustain it,between the flyers and anaheim.
Another Jonathan Drouin.
Disappointing he did not want to be a Flyer and I guess he’s entitled to make that decision, but his unwillingness to discuss why and grade school communication antics is a reflection of his true character. He probably isn’t built for the Philly sports environment.
I believe some told him not to play for the flyers someone who hates the flyers he got bad information
Made his day