The Skinny on newly acquired Jamie Drysdale (Flyers)

Photo Credit: John Cordes/Getty Images

Cutter Gauthier was once hailed as a sniper in Philadelphia, and one that the Flyers haven’t had since Jeff Carter. Gauthier with his size was being compared with the likes of John LeClair, a former Flyer great. That was then, and this is now. Gauthier was shipped to the Anaheim Ducks last night before the Flyers played the Pittsburgh Penguins, in exchange for Jamie Drysdale a top Right-Handed defenseman that can skate with the best of them. So just who is Drysdale?

Drysdale hails from Toronto, Ontario and is just 21-years-old. Yes you read that right just 21-years-old. He was selected by the Ducks in the first round, sixth overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft. Drysdale has five points (1g,4a) in 10 games played with Anaheim this season. The 5’11, 185 pound defenseman has 45 points (8g,37a) in 123 games in four seasons with the Ducks (2020-24). He missed majority of the 2022-23 season with a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

A young Defenseman in Drysdale is a very good skater. Actually, that’s his top asset to his game. He can transition out of the zone and up the ice with the best of them, mainly due to his speed. He hits the neutral zone with speed, and when that happens he’s hard to stop. Drysdale can rush the puck up the ice, while making plays. He uses his skating and puck handling skills, to become strong in transition. Drysdale has a good hockey IQ and sees the ice well, thus he’s able to make the right place and passes two is open teammates. That is what makes him elusive on the Power Play, he always seems to find the open man.

His bread and butter is the Power Play, as the Flyers will finally now have a quarterback on the top Power Play unit immediately. He’s an excellent skater, keeps pucks in at the blue line, and makes the right plays with the man advantage. If not for injuries he may have close to 100 points as a defenseman in the NHL for his career at this point.

“I think what’s going to give this group of jolt is he is a high character kid too,” John Tortorella said following the Pittsburgh game yesterday. “From what is getting back to me there are going to be people upset there in Anaheim. Really exciting, I don’t know what else to say.”

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Tortorella further elaborated that he is excited about Drysdale, and he will get every opportunity on the right side. That means Travis Sanheim will see time on the left side. Drysdale appears to be a competitive kid and well liked in the locker room. Good riddance Cutter Gauthier, the Flyers now have their 1A/1B Defenseman, now it’s time to develop him properly.