With the pick they acquired from the Colorado Avalanche (who had acquired it from the Montreal Canadiens) in the Ross Colton trade, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected Ethan Gauthier, a forward from the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL.
In two seasons with the Phoenix Gauthier recorded 48 goals with 60 assists in 131 games. He was recently traded to Drummondville for six draft picks including three first rounders. The 6’0″, 183 pound right-winger comes from a NHL linage as he father, Denis, was a long-time defenseman in the league having played in Calgary, Phoenix (where Ethan was born), Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.
Gauthier was thought to be a late first-round pick as he was ranked 29th by Bob McKenzie, 24th by Draft Prospects Hockey, 31st by Elite Prospects, and was the 16th rated North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.
In drafting Gauthier the Lightning stuck to what has worked for them in the past. He’s not the flashiest player on the ice, but makes his teammates better. The Athletic’s Corey Pronman had him ranked 32nd and projects him as a middle of the line-up player.
Analysis: Gauthier has very good skill and offensive IQ. He can beat defenders one-on-one at a high rate, making creative plays in small areas and showing he can create a lot for his teammates too. He has talent but also competes well. He is quite physical and can be a nasty player to play against which you love to see from a smaller player. Gauthier gets to the net and can create chances there frequently. The issue is as a 5-foot-11 winger who lacks NHL quickness, the question is whether his game translates to higher levels. His work ethic will help that cause, but he may always have to be proving himself due to his lack of top-end athleticism. I still see a middle-six winger in the league.
Just about every profile of him mentions his high work rate and the physical aspect of his game. He might not be the quickest skater on the ice, as Pronman mentioned, but he can make up for that by never stopping while he’s on the ice.
Gauthier, who turned 18 in January, will still need a few years before he’s ready to turn pro, but should be pushing for a spot right around the same time the Lightning’s other top prospects like Isaac Howard and Dylan Duke are ready.
Ethan Gauthier puts Canada on the board late in the first! #HlinkaGretzkyCup pic.twitter.com/WTCajCeRf7
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 5, 2022
Ethan Gauthier reverse hit pic.twitter.com/Bx0rgKTrmP
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) August 6, 2022
#ducks Tyson Hinds drives the net, and 2023 first-round projected Ethan Gauthier finds him with a hard pass to win the game for Sherbrooke in OT. pic.twitter.com/Vokk6pXwWR
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) April 30, 2023
