Julien Gauthier has signed a new contract with the New York Islanders.

5 years too short IMO

Scored a ridiculously stupid goal against the Leafs at the only NHL game I've ever been to lmao

https://youtube.com/shorts/L3Cm6CbKu8I?feature=share

I voted no.

I really like Gauthier as a prospect and giving him a chance is a smart move. But this is a one-way contract for TWO years on a team that has 14 forwards that are fighting for NHL roster spots that are subject to waivers and still have to re-sign Oliver Wahlstrom. Between Gauthier, Wahlstrom, Koivula, and Fasching they are either losing players to waivers or having really expensive players in the AHL (I know their cap hit gets buried but the actual cash). Gauthier is NOT a 4th line type player in the NHL so he has to beat out 3rd liners and this also blocks young guys like Dufour from getting ice time.

One way deal only really effects what they pay him in the minors. It's definitely an indication that they expect him to be on the NHL roster, but if not it doesn't matter at all. Who cares if he makes an extra 300k in the minors?

It feels like Lou's trying to catch another Hudson Fasching-type with the trio of deals he signed today. These guys feel like the type of names that get called up when Cal Clutterbuck inevitably needs a 3-4 game stretch off - you can bring up a Gauthier or Kuhlman to get those 8 minutes a night on the 4th line and then just shrug your shoulders if one of them gets claimed going back down to Bridgeport.

The 2 years feels like a Lou thing - he's always signing journeymen types to 2 year deals like this. Andy Andreoff, Cole Bardreau (twice!), and Austin Czarnik all got similar treatment since Lou took over in 2018. I think he just places some value on continuity & culture at the AHL level and latches on to "his guys" for those roles.

I can't see Ledecky losing much sleep over 300k...as long as there's no cap space involved, this nothing more than a low risk flier...

New York Rangers, where young players go to kill their careers. Don't think he'll ever be more than a depth player, but there was once potential, so you never know.

Going to miss Julien. Take good care of him even if you are a rival team.