Gauthier is absolutely not a top 6 player.

Gauthier is a very frustrating player to watch as a fan. He is big and very fast and creates a lot of scoring opportunities, but he can't finish to save his life. If he could convert on 10% of the scoring chances he creates, he would be a legit 3rd line winger. Although he has good size, he really doesn't play a physical game. I like him as a player because of his potential and he really seems to have a good attitude about being sent down and recalled a lot, he doesn't seem to pout about it. I was surprised he didn't get claimed off waivers to be honest. Obviously the Rangers would be open to trading him and maybe a change of scenery would help him develop. I doubt Drury would take an AHL winger for him, probably would prefer a draft pick.

Yeah neither is Lucic and he was tried out up there for some reason

I’d prefer Ritchie in the Top-6 over Lucic, but Gauthier would be even better. He has the Size, Speed, Strength, Hitting and Hands and isn’t afraid to got to the corners and net. Just cause he didn’t do well in NYR doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t play better elsewhere

Nobody wants to try Phillips or Ruzicka in the Top-6 and now Josh Anderson keeps coming up as a Trade Target, so why not give Gauthier a shot. He’s cheap and Younger. Maybe a change of scenery will help him and bringing in a French connection for Huberdeau might not be a bad thing either

Gotta keep trying different things until we find the proper “Synergy”. Doing the same thing (or playing the same guys) over and over and expecting different results is insanity. If it isn’t working, eventually you gotta change it up

Yeah but what would NYR get, a 5th/6th/7th Round Pick!? I’m fine doing that but it looks like they need some Bottom-6 Help & Depth themselves

I don’t see them wanting Ritchie or Rooney back or Sutter allowing Lewis to go. The other guy might be Phillips who might add more scoring in their RW but he’s small and again, I see NYR needing more Bottom-6 help, so you got UFA Zohorna or Waivers Exempt Walker Duehr

Neither player will ever end up being a player of any impact on a competitive NHL team. Perhaps you’re putting more thought into this than it deserves.

I can see Rooney coming back. He played well as a Ranger and would definitely help with the 4th line, PK and depth. It was all about cap hit with him, but later this season, I could see taking him back in a deal for someone like Gauthier.

You’re probably right, but then again, Dylan Strome sucked in ARI and things changed dramatically for him when he was Traded to CHI

Sam Bennett, Ryan Hartman, Carter Verhaeghe, Michael Bunting, AJ Greer are some other names who’s performance dramatically improved after being Traded, so it definitely happens

Gauthier has no clue what to do on the ice, defensively or offensively

Neither player in this AGM have the upside or promise of any of the players you just mentioned to be honest.

- Strome proved more in ARI than either of these guys.
- Bunting was given a shot to play wing to Mathew’s and Marner.
- Greer will return to earth soon, I promise.
- Hartman played 8 NHL games before his first full season and netted a respectable 30pts.
- Verhaeghe had 50pts through his first 100 NHL games.
- Bennett 36 pts in first full season,

Again, neither Gauthier or Duehr have shown a fraction of that much success at the NHL level compared to the guys above. Not really great comparisons

Strome was only 48 games onto his NHL career and showed very promising results in the minors too, Gauthier is over 100 games in and only has 4 more points. Gauthier is more in line with Jankowski.

Bennett proved multiple times that he could perform in playoff settings, Hartman changed his game to stay in the league (though he did over perform last year imo). Verhaeghe never should have hit FA, he was progressing very well in Tampa when they didn't qualify him for cap reasons. Bunting actually did play well before he left AZ as a UFA

Well I don’t think we’re desperate but making minor moves and trying some no risk high reward options wouldn’t hurt since it’s too early for a bigger trade and the guy most expendable is out so can’t be traded.

I don’t see much internally other than Phillips & Ruzicka or possibly Ben Jones being ready to join a Top-9 line. I just don’t think Zary or Pelletier are ready. Maybe it’s better to give Ritchie a look, he wouldn’t be near the defensive liability Lucic is. Otherwise we break up Backlund & Coleman and see if Coleman can do something up there

We start a road trip after this game tonight, they weren't going to call up anyone prior to that. There is a decent chance we see someone get a tryout on this trip. I think you are sleeping too much on Zary and Pelletier, they easily have the highest chance to thrive on the Flames roster as their ceilings are much higher than the other guys you mentioned

There’s no doubt they have higher ceilings, I just wonder if they’re mature and whether they have filled out enough. They can be very fragile at that age, both Physically and Mentally

Gaut is the first AHL call-up and will probably be sent down prior to the 10th when his window closes rather than exposing another bottom 6 to waivers even though he has outplayed some. Without knowing much about Duehr, he probably has a remote chance to see the roster this year behind several others in Hartford. A draft pick could get Gaut but it seems less likely Treliving would trade that on a project rather than shuffle a player from the bottom end of the roster. Ruzicka does look like the player that could add some depth to the roster because he is a big body like Gaut, can play center, and doesn't add salary, but he doesn't seem to be on your available list. I see he hasn't played much this year and is a healthy scratch on your lines. What is going on with Ruzicka?