The infamous drama between the Philadelphia Flyers and their former prospect Cutter Gauthier was one for the ages, and after Gauthier was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, Flyers fans couldn't wait to mark the date for when he would come to Philadelphia during the 2024-25 season. Turns out, Gauthier can't wait either.
ICYMI: Gauthier was drafted fifth overall by the Flyers in 2022, and with impressive displays at the college level and the 2024 World Junior Championship, he looked to be a future star for the organization. The front office thought so—according to Flyers GM Danny Briere, he literally said he was "made to be a Flyer—but Gauthier and his team suddenly stopped communicating with the Flyers front office and forced a trade out of uncooperativeness.
The Flyers sent Gauthier to the Ducks in exchange for talented young defenseman Jamie Drysdale, but having him out of the organization didn't stop Flyers fans from raining down vitriol on the 20-year-old—and they were eager to find out the date that the Ducks would be in town with Gauthier in tow for the upcoming season.
With the release of the official NHL schedule for 2024-25, it was revealed that the Flyers would welcome the Ducks to the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 11, 2025—a little over exactly a year after the trade first occurred.
It wouldn't be surprising if Gauthier was a bit nervous for that game, but when he spoke to the media at the Ducks' development camp, he seemed to be looking forward to the event.
"It's going to be an exciting game," he said. "I'm pumped for it. With everything that happened, obviously [I] want to play well and do my thing."
The teams' first meeting of the season will be in Anaheim on Dec. 28, 2024.
