Gauthier Advances, Colangelo and Kukkonen Eliminated: NCAA Tournament Update for Ducks Prospects
The first weekend of the NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Tournament is in the books. Anaheim Ducks top prospect Cutter Gauthier will play in the Frozen Four while Sam Colangelo and Kyle Kukkonen's teams were eliminated
The first two rounds of the NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament took place during Easter weekend. The Anaheim Ducks were represented by three prospects in the tournament; Boston College Sophomore Cutter Gauthier (5th overall in 2022; traded to Anaheim), Western Michigan Senior Sam Colangelo (36th in '20), and Sophomore Kyle Kukkonen (162nd in '21).
Cutter Gauthier
Cutter Gauthier's Boston College Eagles won their first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and will take on the University of Michigan on April 11.
Gauthier is consistently ranked among the top NHL prospects not currently playing in the NHL and his performance in the first two games exemplifies that notion.
After scoring three goals and seven points in three games en route to a Hockey East Championship, Gauthier followed that performance by scoring two goals and five points in his first two NCAA Tournament games.
Gauthier has added layers to his game as the 2023-24 season has progressed. While early in the season, it may have seemed like he shot everything that touched his stick, he's worked hard to round out his 200-foot game.
He's using his powerful stride to transition pucks up ice and once he's gained entry, he makes good decisions by either stickhandling and cutting to dangerous areas before setting teammates up on the wings, finding teammates driving center lanes, or creating space for his own shot. He's layered in baiting moves to freeze defenders who are anticipating shots to open up secondary options.
Gauthier supports well in defensive zone coverage and reads plays well while on the forecheck, especially as an F3. He's also deployed on BC's second penalty kill unit.
He's only performed better as the stage gets bigger, from World Juniors to World Championships to NCAA Tournaments. Michigan will prove to be one of Boston College's toughest opponents to date.
Cutter Gauthier is eligible to sign his ELC and join the Ducks when Boston College either wins the tournament or is eliminated. If they lose to Michigan in the semifinals, Gauthier can immediately sign and play the Ducks remaining games on their schedule. Anaheim has games scheduled on April 12, 13, and 18. If BC defeats Michigan, the Championship game will take place on April 13 and Gauthier will only be eligible to play in one game for the Ducks in 2023-24.
Gauthier is in the running for the Hobey Baker Award and leads the nation in goal-scoring with 37 goals in 39 games so far this season.
Sam Colangelo
Sam Colangelo's Western Michigan Broncos were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by Michigan State in a 5-4 overtime loss.
Colangelo has had an up-and-down collegiate career. After only playing eight games in his Freshman season at Northeastern University, he was a near-point-per-game player as a Sophomore, scoring 27 points (12 goals) in 29 games. He struggled in his Junior season and only managed nine goals and 24 points in 35 games and decided to transfer to Western Michigan for his Senior season.
In 2023-24, Colangelo elevated his game and currently sits tied for 7th in the nation in goal-scoring with 24 in 38 games. He added 19 helpers to his point total and finished the year as an above-point per-game player.
While the knock on Colangelo's game has always been skating, it seems to be mostly a foot speed issue. His stride is powerful and his edges are strong as he's rarely knocked to the ice. He excels in tight areas of the ice, battles hard, and has added a distance shot threat to his offensive arsenal. He was deadly on the left flank of WMU's power play this season.
Colangelo is currently eligible to sign his ELC and join the Anaheim Ducks organization either in Anaheim or in San Diego with the Gulls of the AHL. Due to his age (22), it will be a two-year contract and 2023-24 will count as one of those years. He is also eligible to sign an ATO (amateur tryout) and join the Gulls. If his ELC isn't signed by Aug. 15, Colangelo would become a UFA (unrestricted free agent) and he would be eligible to sign with whichever team offers him a contract.
Pat Verbeek expressed his desire to sign Colangelo at the team's "Ducks Migration" event and get him into the organization when his NCAA season was finished.
Kyle Kukkonen
Kyle Kukkonen's Michigan Tech Huskies lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Cutter Gauthier's Boston College by a score of 6-1.
Kukkonen (21) had a tough go in his Sophomore season. After a productive 2022-23 Freshman year when he totaled 18 goals and 27 points in 39 games, he only managed a goal and twelve assists in 27 games in 2023-24.
Kukkonen suffered a broken leg in January and was out of the Michigan Tech lineup for two months. He made his return to action just one week before the NCAA tournament.
Despite not being blessed with elite size (5-foot-10, 174 pounds) or possessing an otherworldly shot or skating ability, Kukkonen has been productive at every level he's played at. He blends his hockey sense and stickhandling ability to create space on the ice to make plays. He's a smart defender and uses his stick well to break up opposing attacks.
Kukkonen will look to heal, return to form for his 2024-25 Junior season, and produce like he had in the past.