Flyers first-round pick returning to Boston College for sophomore season

Philadelphia Flyers 2022 fifth overall pick Cutter Gauthier is headed back to Boston College for his sophomore season, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Friedman added that he doesn’t view this move as a surprise for the young forward, given that this is likely the best scenario for his development.

Gauthier returns to a club where he played mostly center last season on his way to 16 goals and 21 assists in 31 games. His 37 points were good enough to lead the Eagles in scoring and earn him a Hockey East Third Team All-Star selection.

Gauthier was a coveted prospect at last year’s draft, and it is easy to see why. He is a center who can skate with good size at 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds. Scouts view him as someone who plays with a lot of pace and can burn defenders with a wide assortment of offensive tools. While his work with the puck is impressive, his work away from the puck is also quite good. He is viewed as a player who is dangerous along the boards and can disrupt cycles and win puck battles.

Gauthier was born in Sweden when his father Sean Gauthier was playing goalie in the Swedish Elite League. However, he grew up playing hockey in the United States after his family moved back to North America. He has represented Team USA internationally on many occasions, including the 2022 Under-18 World Championships where he had nine points in six games to help the Americans win a silver medal.