AKA "the Cutter Gauthier-Jamie Drysdale trade featuring a Flyers/Penguins game."
The Philadelphia Flyers took on one of their biggest rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it somehow managed to be the least interesting story of the night, despite a harrowing 4-1 Flyers loss. There was a lot happening, but we'll try to make some sense of it all.
Nobody Was Focused On This Game
It was the trade heard 'round the world. Cutter Gauthier went from being a young player that Flyers fans couldn't be more excited about to becoming Public Enemy No. 1 after it was revealed in a shock announcement that Gauthier had been traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for young defenseman Jamie Drysdale, along with a second-round pick in 2025.
While initially thought of as a questionable trade, Flyers GM Danny Briere said that this deal has been in the works for months after Gauthier and his team repeatedly ignored the Flyers' front office's attempts to discuss plans with him. According to Briere, "[After Gauthier was drafted] he said he was built to be a Flyer, but a few months later he changed his mind...[Gauthier and his team] would not communicate...would not engage with us."
The Flyers Proved Why They Need Defensive Reinforcements
Safe to say that Jamie Drysdale won't be bored when he gets to Philadelphia! The Flyers' defense was incredibly lackluster, and it was all too easy for the Penguins to poke holes in it the entire game. Carter Hart made some great saves, but he was being pulled in a million different directions with the way the Penguins were skating circles around the Flyers back line. After the Penguins scored their second goal, it really just looked as though the Flyers gave up and let their frustrations get the better of them.
During his postgame press conference, head coach John Tortorella said that he believes Drysdale "will fit right in" to the team, and that he's a bright young talent that can easily pick up the defensive side of the Flyers.
The Flyers Are Still Confident in Their Team
Although the main focus of media questions directed at Tortorella and the players was centered around the Gauthier trade, there were still some quotes that showed that even though the loss was a heartbreaker, it hasn't shaken their faith in each other.
Owen Tippett called Carter Hart "the heartbeat of this team," while both he and Sanheim heaped their praises on how good Hart has been this entire season. All three players, when asked about Gauthier's refusal to talk to the Flyers' front office, agreed that any player who isn't 100% in and wanting to play for this team can move on. For whatever comfort it may bring, these players aren't interested in flashy young studs if they can't commit to the Flyers' cause. A solid team chemistry has been built, and it's clear that not even the brightest of World Juniors stars can make a dent in that.
The Flyers' last home game before a three-game road trip will come on Jan. 10 against the Montreal Canadiens.