Post by Vancouver Canucks GM (Cooper) on Jun 22, 2024 17:32:46 GMT -8
Top Shelf Gazette
2024 Offseason Edition
Pt-2, Cont.
June 22nd, 2024
We continue on with our Offseason Trade Breakdown, this time discussing the deal between Anaheim Ducks GM, Holden and Minnesota Wild GM, Clint.
Let's dive in.
 | LW, Cutter Gauither | G, Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen |  |
TRADE BREAKDOWN: DUCKS
Ducks GM, Holden started last season by selecting Troy Terry, Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale as their three Franchise Players. However, after a rather under-stellar start to the year, and another injury later, Jamie Drysdale found himself the odd man out on the Ducks crowded pipeline of blueliners.
On January 8th, 2024, Anaheim would pull off a trade that sent Jamie Drysdale to Philadelphia Flyers, one-for-one, in exchange for F, Cutter Gauthier.
The move was a breathe of fresh air for both players as Cutter Gauthier has been requesting his own trade out of Philly. When asked why he asked for a trade, Gauthier said, "It wasn't one specific reason why I asked for a trade, it was multiple, reoccurring issues that i'd seen over the past year and a half, two years," citing the Sports Tribune.
With Drysdale no longer a Duck, and Holden left with only two FP's, the logic behind a Gauthier trade is just too obvious. The trade makes sense and should be helpful for both teams. Gauthier will instantly slide in as GM Holden's teams third FP.
Gauthier, drafted #5 overall by Philadelphia in 2022 NHL Draft, played this previous season for Boston College of NCAA's Hockey-East division as a sophomore. He scored at a remarkable pace, at nearly a goal per game with 38G and 65pts in just 41gp. He finished the season as a Hobey Baker finalist, eventually losing out to soon-to-be 1st over pick, Macklin Celebrini.
As a side note, and as Bill (Tampa Bay) has already written in another article, 'Dobber Prospect's is a great source for prospect research. Each player has a bio, ratings as far as Fantasy Upside (0-10) and NHL Certainty (0-10), as well as career stats and staggered scouting updates. Ive been using the site for fantasy help for nearly 10yrs now. Best source out there, if i'd say myself.
(Dobberprospects.com)
Here is what Dobber Prospects has to say about Cutter Gauthier: "Offensively efficient, smart defensively. Has size, strength and skating ability to turn pro and immediently slide into a top-6 forward position after the 2023-24 NCAA season."
Dobber has his NHL Certainty as 8.5/10 and Fantasy Upside listed at 9/10. Some pretty high marks.
TRADE BREAKDOWN: WILD
Going the other way was Goaltender Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen. Just a day after acquiring star goaltender, Juuse Saros from Vancouver, Clint was at it again, this time strengthing their #2 position.
Buffalo Sabres started the year looking like the starting nod would go to teammate, and youngster, Devon Levi. After a sub-par start to the season, Levi was benched in favor of Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen, and from that point on, he did not look back.
Lukkonen broke out in a big way last year playing in 54 games, posting a (career best) 2.57GAA, .911SV% and an impressive 5 shutouts.
Career Stats
| YEAR | GP | WINS | GAA | SV% | SHO |
| 2023-24 | 54 | 27 | 2.57 | .911 | 5 |
| 2022-23 | 33 | 17 | 3.61 | .891 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 9 | 2 | 2.74 | .917 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 4 | 1 | 3.88 | .906 | 0 |
with the completion of this trade, Minnesota GM, Clint, now has his goalie situation set, going forward with the trio of Saros, Lukkonen, and Jesper Wallstadt
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