The Rangers dealt from their prospect strength - defense - to fill a need - forward - in dealing Joey Keane to Carolina for Julien Gauthier. Keane was called up last Friday with Marc Staal battling the flu and Tony DeAngelo dealing with a shoulder injury but did not get a game. Gauthier, who is dominating for Charlotte in the AHL, received a cup of coffee with the Hurricanes but didn’t stick.
Scott Wheeler team prospect rankings had Carolina third overall and Gauthier ranked ninth amongst their prospects. Here is his write up on Gauthier:
9. Julien Gauthier, RW, 22 (Charlotte Checkers)
Anytime you’re 6-foot-4, you can skate with power and speed off the rush, and you can overpower goalies with a hard shot, you’re probably going to work your way into an NHL role. He’s not going to surprise defenders with passes through their feet or a slick pass on the power play but Gauthier can get to the net to finish off plays or score from long range. Though he can be a little one-dimensional, he should thrive with a playmaking centre who can get him the puck and the Canes have no shortage of that player type on the way. I’m actually a little surprised he hasn’t been given more of an NHL look this season. He’s one of the better scorers in the AHL these days.
Wheeler had the Rangers fourth overall and Keane ranked fifth amongst their prospects.
5. Joey Keane, RHD, 20 (Hartford Wolf Pack)
There are some kinks to the way Keane looks when he plays that will grab your attention when you watch him play. It can feel like he’s stiff or he’s slapping the puck around because of the way he holds his stick and his unique stance over his toes. His hands don’t look smooth, either. But he’s a physical presence who has borderline elite skating ability and just continues to prove he can be productive, join the rush, slide down the wall in the offensive zone, and play with toughness. I’m not sure he’s going to drive offence at the NHL level, but he can make plays here and there, he’s confident with the puck even when he may not have plus-level skill with it, his skating helps him escape trouble, and he provides a different look than most modern NHL defencemen. I could see him settling in as a versatile third-pairing option.
From the Rangers’ press release on Gauthier:
Gauthier, 22, has skated in 44 games with the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, registering 26 goals and 11 assists for 37 points, along with 34 penalty minutes. He ranks fourth in the AHL in goals in 2019-20. In addition, Gauthier leads the Checkers in goals, power play goals (eight), and shots on goal (126), and is tied for third on the team in points this season. Gauthier has recorded at least one goal in 22 of the 44 AHL games he has played thus far in 2019-20. He has also skated in five NHL games with the Hurricanes this season, registering one assist and a plus-two rating. Gauthier made his NHL debut on Oct. 11, 2019 against the NY Islanders, and he tallied his first career NHL assist/point on Dec. 14, 2019 at Calgary.
The 6-4, 227-pounder has skated in 184 career AHL games over three seasons (2017-18 – 2019-20), all with Charlotte, registering 69 goals and 34 assists for 103 points, along with 115 penalty minutes. Gauthier ranks fourth in the AHL in goals over the last two seasons (53), and he established AHL career-highs in games played (75), goals (27), assists (14), and points (41) in 2018-19. Gauthier also helped Charlotte win the Calder Cup as AHL Champions in 2018-19, as he tallied eight points (five goals, three assists) and posted a plus-seven rating in 17 playoff games.
Keane, a third-round pick in 2018, took a major step forward this year. He was an AHL All-Star and projected to have a shot at making the roster next season, depending on what happened with the teams current stable of blueliners. Carolina had depth at forward and wanted depth on D, though that wasn't necessarily a crying need, making Keane a solid acquisition. New York, though, could have hit a home run if Gauthier continues to develop. He is big, has great hands, a net front presence with a good shot and fast. I saw a comparison to Denis Gurianov, which would make him a perfect fit. At worst, he is likely a third line, agitative winger who can score. At best, a top-six presence and possible poor-man’s replacement or augmentation to Chris Kreider. If Kreider or Jesper Fast are dealt by next Monday’s trade deadline, look for Gauthier, a first-round pick in 2016, 21 overall, to be promoted and in the lineup. (Update: Gauthier was assigned #12 by the Rangers and it looks like he might immediately join the parent club. If that dos happen, it’s possible he slides onto the third line alongside Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil).
To me, this trade is a win for the Rangers. I hated giving up Keane, but with Nils Lundkvist, K’Andre Miller, Matthew Robertson and others in the pipeline, one D-man could and likely had to go. A forward was needed, and Gauthier potentially checks several boxes currently missing on the team and on the farm.
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