Cutter Gauthier is a power forward with higher-end skill than your average player of his cut. He makes his presence felt on every shift, throwing his body around and getting involved in every scrum he can. He has the ability to drive transitional play, which is a trait that scouts will value highly. He has impressive puck-handling skills for a player who plays a power game and has above-average skating ability that allows him to keep up with a higher pace of play. He has risen up the ranks all season because of his ability to get to the high-danger scoring areas and use his NHL-caliber shot to beat goalies with a high consistency rate. He has positional flexibility as well, playing both the wing and down the middle. Although he’s more comfortable on the wing, it’s a nice insurance policy knowing that he is capable of playing multiple positions. He’s not an overly flashy player, and won’t make any jaw-dropping one-on-one moves that bring the crowd to the edge of their seats, or even out of it. But what he will do is pick up the puck, stick his head down and drive the center lane to create a quality primary scoring chance for himself or a second-chance opportunity for a teammate. If there were any issues or concerns with his game, it’s his consistency. One night he will look like the best player on the ice and a go-to threat for his team, but on another he will blend into the crowd a little too much and be a passenger when he’s on the ice. This can easily be fixed as he develops and matures more with age. Gauthier is the one player who could very well go earlier than people expect because of his attributes and the fact that NHL teams really value the rare combination of skills that this player possesses.

– FCHockey’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide