Whether Cutter Gauthier makes a real play for the Calder honestly feels like it’s going to depend more on how bad the Anaheim Ducks are as a whole during the 24-25 season than his personal skill set. This kid rips.
If the Ducks trade Trevor Zegras, Gauthier will feast on opportunities that Zegras might otherwise take advantage of. If Zegras stays, chances are good they increase each other’s scoring potential (if they’re played together). Regardless, Gauthier feels like he will be a key piece on the Ducks’ roster moving forward. And because he’s tenacious and thrives on driving the puck to the net, it’s easy to see him making a big impression offensively. He’s not just a one-trick guy, either; he’s strong defensively, using his size and stick to win puck battles.
But expectations can weigh on a player, and after his issues with the Philadelphia Flyers and the weight of being the return for the Jamie Drysdale trade, Gauthier is coming into Anaheim with some pretty lofty ones. How much it will affect his play remains to be seen.
