Frederik Gauthier

History

2010-11: Frederik Gauthier played for the College Esther-Blondin Phenix midget AAA team in Quebec. In 37 games he scored 7 goals with 14 assists and had six penalty minutes. The Phenix finished third in the CCM Division and in three playoff games Gauthier was scoreless with no penalty minutes. Gauthier skated for Team Quebec in the Canadian Winter Games; finishing with 1 assist and 4 penalty minutes in six games. He was selected by Rimouski in the third round (40th overall) of the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft.

2011-12: Gauthier returned to College Esther-Blondin for a second season and was the team’s third-leading scorer, finishing with a team-leading 26 goals and 25 assists in 39 games with 28 penalty minutes. Gauthier led the Phenix with 13 goals and had 11 assists in 13 playoff games as the team captured the playoff championship. In the Telus Cup (Canadian midget championships) he scored 2 goals with 9 assist in seven games as the Phenix reached the gold medal game.

2012-13: Gauthier scored at a near point-per-game pace in his first QMJHL season with Rimouski and was selected to represent Canada in the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship. He scored 22 goals with 38 assists and was plus-22 with 26 penalty minutes in 62 games. The Oceanic finished second in the East Division before falling to Gatineau in a first round playoff series. Gauthier had 2 assists and was plus-one with 2 penalty minutes in six playoff games. Gauthier was ranked seventh amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings prior to the 2013 NHL Draft, and eighth in the CSS final rankings.

2013-14: Gauthier represented Canada at the 2014 World Juniors and scored at nearly a point-per-game pace for Rimouski in his second QMJHL season. Missing 14 games due to injury and his time with the Canada U20 team, Gauthier scored 18 goals with 34 assists in 54 games and was +19 with 27 penalty minutes as Rimouski finished second in the East Division and reached the second round in the playoffs. Gauthier scored 3 goals with 6 assists and was +6 with 6 penalty minutes in 11 playoff games. He was -1 with 1 assist in seven games at the WJC. Canada finished fourth in the tournament; losing 2-1 to Russia in the bronze medal game. 

Talent Analysis

Gauthier is a polished prospect who combines great size with a mature game at both ends of the ice. The same on-ice vision and hockey sense that makes him a dangerous contributor at the offensive side of the game serves him well in breaking up opposing plays in his own zone. He is strong on the cycle, skates well and uses his size to win battles. Gauthier is very good in the face-off circle. Though he may never be a top offensive threat, he has too many tools to ignore.

Future

Gauthier attended training camp with the Maple Leafs before being returned to Rimouski for the 2014-15 season — missing time early in the year due to an injury — and skated for Canada's gold medal squad at the 2015 World Junior Championship. He has been a consistent scorer in the QMJHL over three seasons but Gauthier's true value at the NHL level will likely be his strong defensive play and ability to play in all situations. He was the top face-off center for Canada at the WJC.