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 mentioned good riddance to their former prize prospect.
Gauthier answered questions Wednesday concerning 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 mentioned he obtained loss of life threats through social media. Many of the questions Gauthier has confronted have centered round one easy one: Why didn’t he wish to play for the Flyers?
“That’s the query (that) sort of everybody’s questioning, and the largest factor I can say proper now’s I’ve to maintain it to myself, my household and my agent,” Gauthier mentioned. “It’s been an extended course of prior to now handful of months of coping with this. I don’t assume it’s the precise time to sort of talk about it. There is likely to be at some point the place I sort of get into particulars on what occurred. Proper now, I wish to hold it to a personal matter.”
Throughout a 30-minute phone name with native reporters, Gauthier mentioned his head is “sort of spinning” within the two days because the commerce, and emphasised he’s excited to affix Anaheim after his faculty season ends. He additionally pointed to loss of life threats in describing the visceral reactions he’s obtained.
“There’s been a whole lot of good and dangerous,” he mentioned. “A 19-year-old child getting a whole lot 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. Nevertheless 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 understand, individuals are going to have opinions. Individuals are going to say issues. I can’t inform them to have an opinion or not. It’s been undoubtedly a little bit little bit of a hectic scenario (the) final 48 hours.”
Increasing on the threats he’s obtained, Gauthier mentioned: “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 scenario, sort of I’d say a pigeon view from above. I believed it was finest for me to make the choice I made. Clearly some folks aren’t going to be proud of 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 proud of 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 cellular phone or social feeds. However there was assist amid the backlash.
“It’s sort of robust when it’s all proper in your face proper there,” he mentioned. “You pull up Twitter and also you see my title and each report of what’s occurring and everybody having their very own opinions. It’s sort of robust to not fully steer clear of it.
“Like I mentioned earlier than, it’s a enterprise. Individuals are going to say issues, particularly within the scenario we’re in proper now. It’s sort of robust figuring out the actual purpose why and seeing folks put all these false statements on the market. Not with the ability to actually specific what actually occurred but. It’s been sort of onerous, however it’s additionally been good, too. A bunch of individuals have reached out to me.
“You’ll be able to undoubtedly see who your circle of buddies are in conditions like this. It’s undoubtedly been good for essentially the most half and clearly a handful of dangerous issues from Flyers followers.”
Within the time because the commerce, Gauthier mentioned he did commute on whether or not to completely 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 can be spreading proper now,” he mentioned. “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 mentioned that’s been spot on on the explanation why this all transpired. Individuals like to speak and folks wish to make issues up and different folks wish to hear.”
One other facet of the commerce Gauthier sought to dispel is the notion that he didn’t wish to play for Flyers coach John Tortorella. He mentioned his interplay with him was optimistic.
“All these rumors saying I used to be terrified of Torts, that’s not the case in any respect,” he mentioned. “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 wish 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 discuss again to a coach. I’m going to present it my all each single shift. That was undoubtedly not the explanation why I didn’t wish to play in Philly.
“I truly met Torts throughout dev camp two years again. I used to be tremendous excited and thrilled to fulfill him. Clearly, being a giant title in hockey and the teaching employees business, I undoubtedly was not in opposition to enjoying for him by any means.”
And whereas he stayed away from specifics concerning the Flyers and his dealings with them, Gauthier particularly took subject with St. Louis Blues ahead Kevin Hayes being described as somebody who influenced his need to play elsewhere. Hayes, who performed with the Flyers from 2020-23, is a former BC participant who Gauthier has gotten to know effectively.
“I’ve sort of seen all of the rumors going round about Kevin Hayes having his fingerprints on this,” Gauthier mentioned. “I wish to make clear that he has nothing to do with this by any means. He has completely nothing (to do with it). A number of the people who find themselves sort of saying these items about his household and stuff like that, (it) is fairly gutless. He has zero fingerprints on this by any means.
“I haven’t spoken to him in a very long time. I simply wished to make clear it. It’s not simply his phrase in opposition to everybody else’s. I wished to ensure that (it’s identified) he was undoubtedly not concerned on this by any means. It’s sort of disrespectful to him and his title that he was being introduced into this.”
The Geese made the commerce with the robust 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 mentioned that’s his plan and his NHL debut may nonetheless come if the Eagles had been to play for the NCAA title, as Anaheim performs its season finale 5 days after the championship sport. He mentioned he’s been in contact with present Geese forwards Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson.
However the prospect of him enjoying his first sport in Philadelphia should wait because the Geese already made their lone go to in October. Requested what he anticipates the primary sport at Wells Fargo Middle can be like, Gauthier mentioned “chaotic.”
“I received that (future) date circled on my calendar massive time,” he continued. “I can’t wait to go on the market and play my sport in entrance of these followers and do my factor. I’m actually trying ahead to that sport.”
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(Photograph: Andy Lewis / Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)