The Chicago Blackhawks are always on the lookout for young players who can help them in the present and future.
The Chicago Blackhawks, if they were wise, would leave no stone unturned in this phase of the rebuild. Anybody who can make the team better in the short and long term should at least be talked about within the organization.
Right now, there is a forward out there named Cutter Gauthier who is in a strange situation. With less than a month before the regular season begins, Gauthier is still a restricted free agent. Without a contract, he can’t play.
As a restricted free agent, he is controlled by his team, the Anaheim Ducks. There are multiple factors that could lead to this getting messier before it’s cleaned up.
For one, Gauthier has never been shy about his wants and desires. Not long after the Philadelphia Flyers made him the 5th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Gauthier made it rather clear that he had no intention of playing for them. It was a well-kept secret until he was traded to Anaheim before ever playing an NHL game.
Since joining the Ducks, Gauthier has been incredible. He burned his first entry-level season by playing one game with Anaheim to end 2023-24. He collected one assist in that NHL debut of his. He followed that up with his true rookie season, where his 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points earned him a 5th-place finish in the Calder Trophy voting.
Then came last season where he became a breakout player in the NHL. Gauthier had 41 goals, 28 assists, and 69 points in 76 games played. If he was able to score 41 in his second full season, what will his career year look like?
Over the summer, the Flyers tendered an offer sheet to Ducks forward Leo Carlsson, and he signed it. The Ducks chose to match the deal, which is a massive five-year deal with a cap hit of $18 million. It’s a massive contract for a player who has been incredible, but has a long way to go in his development. It could prove to be worth it, but it seems premature for him to be making that kind of money.
Does Gautheir want this type of payday? Is he actually worth it? These are things that the Ducks must weigh and make a decision. With just over $9 million in cap space, they have more moves to make if they plan to keep Gauthier. The Leo Carlsson offer sheet really derailed their plans because they not only had to pay him much more than they expected, but also set a new precedent for other young players.
For the Chicago Blackhawks, or any other team with roster flexibility, it can't hurt to make a phone call. Adding a 22-year-old player with a 40-goal season already under his belt is a good idea for everyone.
The Blackhawks are roughly $2 million under the cap, so corresponding moves would have to be made if they wanted to get Gautier signed once acquired. Whether it is by including big contracts like Tyler Bertuzzi or Teuvo Teravainen in this deal, or through other deals, some maneuvering would be required.
The Blackhawks, if Gauthier did find his way onto the trade block because the Ducks can't get him signed, have the prospect and draft capital to make a deal work. This is not a player you prospect-hug rather than acquire; he is only 22, which is still a "prospect age," and already proven in the NHL.
Cutter Gauthier is a true goal-scoring winger, which would make life easier for the centers. Connor Bedard would get the first crack at playing with him, but Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell would each have easier game plans as centers if Gauthier were there.
There is also an attitude (in a good way) to Gauthier's personality, which is something that the young Blackhawks could use going forward. In every way, on and off the ice, he's a perfect fit. It would be a hefty trade, but one the Ducks might be willing to make if this contract issue gets any messier.
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