Wednesday morning, USA Hockey announced Cutter Gauthier as the USA Hockey College Player of the Year
Wednesday morning, USA Hockey announced Cutter Gauthier as the USA Hockey College Player of the Year
On Wednesday, May 29, USA Hockey announced Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier (20) as their 2024 recipient for the Jim Johannson College Player of the Year.
The Jim Johannson College Player of the Year Award was established in 1994 and recognizes "the accomplishments of the top American-born player in NCAA Division I men's college hockey."
Cutter Gauthier is the fourth Boston College player to receive the award, and the first since Johnny Gaudreau in 2014.
In 2023-24, Gauthier's sophomore season at Boston College, he finished second in the nation in scoring, with 65 points in 41 games. His 38 goals were the most scored in a single NCAA season since 2005-06 (Ryan Potulny).
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Gauthier made his NHL debut in the final game of the season for the Anaheim Ducks, a 4-1 win over the Golden Knights in Las Vegas on April 18. He tallied his first NHL point during that game on a no-look pass to Jackson LaCombe, who buried the game-winning goal.
"He fit in really well," Director of Player Development Johnson told AnaheimDucks.com. "I really liked what I saw with the chemistry between him and Leo. He's got a shooting mentality and he skates extremely well in straight lines. He's got good speed. He just needs to get a little bit stronger physically, so that he can handle the man's strength of the NHL, and that's what he's working on this summer."
As a 6-foot-3 forward, Gauthier's trademark attributes are a powerful stride and an even more powerful shot. He can score from any angle and has added change-of-pace layers to his game since he was drafted fifth overall in 2022 by the Philadelphia Flyers.
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Gauthier played center at Boston College, but will likely play on the wing in Anaheim with the Ducks. His versatility is an asset in an ever-evolving game where forward positions are progressively blurring.
As a center, he supported pucks well in the defensive zone and was rarely out of position. His line was often matched up against the opposition's top line and his line more often than not limited opposing success.
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He has every tool necessary to become one of the top goal-scorers in the NHL. He has the motor and battle acumen to win pucks. He effectively finds soft ice away from the puck to make himself a passing option. He can also work to create his own shot on the rush or off the wall and when he does, his release is among the best in the world.
Gauthier will likely enter the 2024-25 season among the frontrunners to win the Calder Trophy.