From the second he was traded to the Anaheim Geese on Monday, Cutter Gauthier has been pilloried in some circles, with social media-fueled assaults on his character after the Philadelphia Flyers successfully stated good riddance to their former prize prospect.
Gauthier answered questions Wednesday in regards to the gorgeous deal, which noticed the Flyers commerce the 19-year-old Boston School standout and up to date United States world juniors gold medal winner to the Geese for younger defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round draft decide.
The response to studies about Gauthier’s latest dealings with Philadelphia — or maybe lack thereof — was so poisonous that Gauthier stated he acquired loss of life threats by way of social media. A lot of the questions Gauthier has confronted have centered round one easy one: Why didn’t he need to play for the Flyers?
“That’s the query (that) sort of everybody’s questioning, and the most important factor I can say proper now’s I’ve to maintain it to myself, my household and my agent,” Gauthier stated. “It’s been a protracted course of prior to now handful of months of coping with this. I don’t assume it’s the proper time to sort of talk about it. There could be sooner or later the place I sort of get into particulars on what occurred. Proper now, I need to preserve it to a non-public matter.”
Throughout a 30-minute phone name with native reporters, Gauthier stated his head is “sort of spinning” within the two days for the reason that commerce, and emphasised he’s excited to hitch Anaheim after his faculty season ends. He additionally pointed to loss of life threats in describing the visceral reactions he’s acquired.
“There’s been lots of good and unhealthy,” he stated. “A 19-year-old child getting lots of loss of life threats and a bunch of 1000’s and 1000’s of individuals reaching out and simply saying some fairly poor issues that I wouldn’t want upon my worst enemy, it’s fairly robust to see, clearly. However it’s a enterprise. With all of the rumors spreading round that aren’t true, it’s sort of robust to exit and say one phrase or something to sort of quiet these folks.
“However, you already know, individuals are going to have opinions. Persons are going to say issues. I can’t inform them to have an opinion or not. It’s been undoubtedly somewhat little bit of a disturbing state of affairs (the) final 48 hours.”
Increasing on the threats he’s acquired, Gauthier stated: “My (direct messages) proper now and Instagram are sort of fairly loopy of what individuals are saying. There’s been 1000’s and 1000’s of messages. I’m nonetheless getting some 5, 10 minutes in the past. And it’s sort of merciless what individuals are saying.
“I didn’t actually imply to place any hurt into anybody. I simply was a state of affairs, sort of I’d say a pigeon view from above. I assumed it was finest for me to make the choice I made. Clearly some folks aren’t going to be pleased with it. I’m not right here to please everybody. I’m right here to do what’s finest for me and my future. I felt that’s what I did. Clearly, folks aren’t going to be too pleased with that. Yeah, some fairly merciless issues that individuals are saying.”
Whereas he understood the quantity of curiosity that will observe within the aftermath of the commerce, Gauthier admits it’s been robust for him to remain off his cellphone or social feeds. However there was help amid the backlash.
“It’s sort of robust when it’s all proper in your face proper there,” he stated. “You pull up Twitter and also you see my identify and each report of what’s occurring and everybody having their very own opinions. It’s sort of robust to not fully keep away from it.
“Like I stated earlier than, it’s a enterprise. Persons are going to say issues, particularly within the state of affairs we’re in proper now. It’s sort of robust understanding the actual purpose why and seeing folks put all these false statements on the market. Not having the ability to actually categorical what actually occurred but. It’s been sort of exhausting, nevertheless it’s additionally been good, too. A bunch of individuals have reached out to me.
“You possibly can undoubtedly see who your circle of buddies are in conditions like this. It’s undoubtedly been good for probably the most half and clearly a handful of unhealthy issues from Flyers followers.”
Within the time for the reason that commerce, Gauthier stated he did shuttle on whether or not to totally clarify what went behind going from the Flyers’ No. 5 selection of the 2022 NHL Draft to requesting a commerce from them final April after his freshman season with the Eagles concluded. He opted for the discretion of privateness.
“I’ve seen sort of all of the rumors which might be spreading proper now,” he stated. “It’s sort of simply humorous what individuals are saying at this second. I don’t assume I’ve seen one factor that’s been stated that’s been spot on on the rationale why this all transpired. Individuals like to speak and other people prefer to make issues up and different folks prefer to hear.”
One other facet of the commerce Gauthier sought to dispel is the notion that he didn’t need to play for Flyers coach John Tortorella. He stated his interplay with him was constructive.
“All these rumors saying I used to be frightened of Torts, that’s not the case in any respect,” he stated. “I’ve had many (robust) coaches all through my complete life and I believe that any coach I’ll play for would like to have me on their crew. I need to do no matter it takes to win. In the event that they’re a tough, yelling, screaming sort of coach, I’ll roll with the punches. I’m by no means going to disrespect or speak again to a coach. I’m going to provide it my all each single shift. That was undoubtedly not the rationale why I didn’t need to play in Philly.
“I truly met Torts throughout dev camp two years again. I used to be tremendous excited and thrilled to satisfy him. Clearly, being a giant identify in hockey and the teaching workers business, I undoubtedly was not in opposition to taking part in for him in anyway.”
And whereas he stayed away from specifics in regards to the Flyers and his dealings with them, Gauthier particularly took difficulty with St. Louis Blues ahead Kevin Hayes being described as somebody who influenced his want to play elsewhere. Hayes, who performed with the Flyers from 2020-23, is a former BC participant who Gauthier has gotten to know nicely.
“I’ve sort of seen all of the rumors going round about Kevin Hayes having his fingerprints on this,” Gauthier stated. “I need to make clear that he has nothing to do with this in anyway. He has completely nothing (to do with it). Among the people who find themselves sort of saying these things about his household and stuff like that, (it) is fairly gutless. He has zero fingerprints on this in anyway.
“I haven’t spoken to him in a very long time. I simply needed to make clear it. It’s not simply his phrase in opposition to everybody else’s. I needed to be sure that (it’s identified) he was undoubtedly not concerned on this in anyway. It’s sort of disrespectful to him and his identify that he was being introduced into this.”
The Geese made the commerce with the sturdy perception and information that Gauthier would signal with them after he completes his sophomore season with the Eagles, who’re the top-ranked crew in faculty hockey. Gauthier stated that’s his plan and his NHL debut might nonetheless come if the Eagles have been to play for the NCAA title, as Anaheim performs its season finale 5 days after the championship recreation. He stated he’s been in contact with present Geese forwards Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson.
However the prospect of him taking part in his first recreation in Philadelphia should wait because the Geese already made their lone go to in October. Requested what he anticipates the primary recreation at Wells Fargo Middle might be like, Gauthier stated “chaotic.”
“I acquired that (future) date circled on my calendar large time,” he continued. “I can’t wait to go on the market and play my recreation in entrance of these followers and do my factor. I’m actually trying ahead to that recreation.”
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(Photograph: Andy Lewis / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)
