Left winger Ethan Gauthier should be on the Arizona Coyotes radar with the No. 38 pick in the second round.
With the No. 38 overall pick, the Arizona Coyotes select …Ethan Gauthier from the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL.
Why pick him? The 18-year-old right winger had 30 goals, 39 assists and 69 points in Sherbrooke this past season. Gauthier was actually born in Phoenix, Arizona so it would be a great feel good story to see him return to the Valley.
Gauthier is known to be a crafty player. Despite only standing at 5 '11'’, he plays a tough game providing a presence in-front of the net and capitalizes on rebounds in the offensive zone. Defensively, Gauthier is smart as he backchecks hard and generates turnovers leading to offensive opportunities for his team.
Gauthier is slick with the puck on his stick and has soft hands. He is a very reliable offensive player and is a safe selection for the Coyotes to make in the second round.
What Scouts say: "He brings a lot to the table. He’s a versatile, hardworking player who excels in pretty much every facet of the game, gets to the middle of the ice, and makes plays around the net through skill and timing," The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler wrote.
Other options: If the Coyotes are searching for another forward in the second round, they can select players such as Bradly Nadeau, Luca Pinelli or Charlie Stramel. There are also some defenseman that could be available at the 38th pick including Theo Lindstein, Etienne Morin or Andrew Gibson.
What else is on the agenda: The Coyotes seem to be in a more competitive state which was shown when they acquired defenseman Sean Durzi from the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. Don’t expect Arizona to make a huge splash this summer but the team might continue the trend of making moves that better position themselves for short-term success.