The Anaheim Ducks robbed the Philadelphia Flyers in this trade

The Philadelphia Flyers have done some really good drafting over the last handful of years. One of their picks was Cutter Gauthier who they selected fifth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft.

He is lighting it up at Boston College where he is part of a completely stacked team. He also was just a huge piece when Team USA won a Gold Medal at the 2023-24 World Junior Championships.

At Boston College this year, Gauthier has 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points in 17 games played. With Team USA, he had two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in the 7 games en route to the Gold.

Now, there is a bit of shocking news on Monday night as the Flyers traded Gauthier to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Jamie Drysdale and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Jamie Drysdale was also a very high draft pick as the Anaheim Ducks made him their sixth overall pick in 2020. Funny enough, he also went to Boston College but he has been in the NHL for a few years now.

The Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks pulled off a huge trade

Drysdale is an offensive defenseman who has a very high ceiling. In his career, he has eight goals and 37 assists for 45 points in 123 games played. There is still another level he can get to but he has dealt with some injury issues in his career.

For example, he has only played in ten games so far this season. In those ten games, he has one goal and four assists for five points.

Because of the worries about injury with Drysdale, it feels like the Flyers were robbed in this trade. Gauthier seems to have an incredibly high ceiling once he reaches the NHL. Now, he'll get to do it as a member of the Anaheim Ducks.

This could end up working out for the Flyers as they need a productive defenseman but losing Gauthier isn't the most ideal situation.

Anaheim is still a bit behind the Flyers but inserting him with Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, and Mason McTavish amongst others should be so fun to watch when it happens.

The positive for Drysdale is that he is now a part of a playoff push. The Ducks are one of the worst teams in the league while the Flyers are on the bubble in the Eastern Conference.

The attitude about this trade could change in the coming years but the initial thought is that the Ducks got the player with the higher ceiling that hasn't dealt with injuries.