Ducks, Flyers make a big trade exchanging top young talent

The Anaheim Ducks have swapped top prospects with the Philadelphia Flyers, trading Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft for forward Cutter Gauthier. Gauthier is coming off a 2024 World Juniors performance that saw him record two goals and 12 points in seven games.

This trade comes suddenly but may be deeper rooted than fans expect, with The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun sharing that Gauthier wouldn’t meet with the Flyers front office and that he told the club he didn’t want to sign. This report was backed up by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, making it seem as though Philadelphia’s arm was twisted in the negotiations.

In sending away Gauthier, the Flyers send away one of the league’s top prospects, with the 19-year-old scoring a dazzling 23 points in 17 games as Boston College’s top center. It’s a follow-up to his strong season last year, which saw him manage 37 points in 32 games. Gauthier was the No. 5 selection in the 2022 NHL Draft.

The cost for Anaheim is undeniably steep, with the team moving out a former No. 6 pick and a second-round pick. Drysdale’s season has, much like his early career, been marked by underachievement, with the 21-year-old defenseman boasting just five points through 10 games this season. 

These junior year struggles could be in part due to injury, with Drysdale missing 29 games so far this season, battling a series of injuries that delayed his start to the year and earned him injured reserve placements.

Philadelphia will look to breathe new life into Drysdale, backed by a blue line that’s become incredibly robust thanks to Sean Walker’s breakout season. Meanwhile, Anaheim brings in a dazzling young center that could serve as the predecessor to veteran Adam Henrique, who has found himself apart of trade rumors with the trade seadline approaching. 

It’s a deal that works for both sides at a glance, though each player will have the rest of their careers to underline just how foolish of a trade this may have been.