Since I actually get to watch quite a few of his games I can tell you, putting the stats aside, that Gauthier does not look good at center. He is a winger and ultimately if the Flyers want Gauthier to reach his true ceiling, they should be developing him as a center. I understand your point about Cates, but Cates was forced into that position because the Flyers literally had no centers and Cates, even at his young age, was a 4 year college player and came to the Flyers as the most responsible defensive forward on the team next to Couturier.
- jd250

Aren’t you the guy that said Jay Obrien has got the goods? Why would anyone take your viewpoint seriously on development

Aren’t you the guy that said Jay Obrien has got the goods? Why would anyone take your viewpoint seriously on development
- ClaudeFather

He is the second youngest kid on the team, playing a new position, leading them in scoring having played less games. It seems to me he is doing rather well.

He is the second youngest kid on the team, playing a new position, leading them in scoring having played less games. It seems to me he is doing rather well.
- MBFlyerfan

Agreed. absolutely should stay another year at BC too.

Agreed. absolutely should stay another year at BC too.
- ClaudeFather

I also agree on staying at BC for another year. Though if he decided he wants to play for the Phantoms I wouldn't say no way. I think he is good enough to play in the AHL right now.

I also agree on staying at BC for another year. Though if he decided he wants to play for the Phantoms I wouldn't say no way. I think he is good enough to play in the AHL right now.
- MBFlyerfan

Yea. If he’s going to stay at center, I’d like him to do another year at BC. Go and figure the game out at a lower level. College hockey is still a very structured game so it’s a good place to learn the position before going pro

Yea. If he’s going to stay at center, I’d like him to do another year at BC. Go and figure the game out at a lower level. College hockey is still a very structured game so it’s a good place to learn the position before going pro
- ClaudeFather

Agree 100%

forget who i was talking too, but guess bo would signe for 8 x 6.5. was going a little lower just due to the crafty Lou being at the helm. but surprise he was signed for what he was. Actually makes the hayes contract look ok. still think he is over paid, but who knows anymore.

Is it customary for the Flyers to send out mid-season letters to STH signed by the coach? I'm not a season ticket holder so I can't really comment on that. Seems like an odd thing to do and sort of echoes the letter the Rangers sent out a while ago to their fans about rebuilding. Also cements Tortorella's status as face of the franchise.
- TobyFlenderson

What did the letter say?

Letter to season ticket holders

He is the second youngest kid on the team, playing a new position, leading them in scoring having played less games. It seems to me he is doing rather well.
- MBFlyerfan

Didn't Charlie O'Conner write a very encouraging report on Gauthier's season recently?

Aren’t you the guy that said Jay Obrien has got the goods? Why would anyone take your viewpoint seriously on development
- ClaudeFather

not playing, they shop together

Letter to season ticket holders

- Dkos

Flyers STH and all Flyers fans should reject this letter outright. It's the same nonsense.

from the small sample size, I prefer him at center, more involved.
- wcorvette

I actually agree with jd250... the kid just screams power winger. I haven't personally seen enough creativity and deception in his game to suggest that he'd thrive as a pro center. His defensive game is not quite up to snuff either.

The Flyers certainly have an organizational need down the middle, but my feeling is that the minute Cutter cracks the lineup Torts will end up putting him on the wing, no matter what Chuck/Flahr's plan is (assuming all those characters are still around by then, lol).

Flyers STH and all Flyers fans should reject this letter outright. It's the same nonsense.
- MJL

“It’s a retool, Charlie”

So basically this is Torts telling us we’re at least 2 years away. Someone needs to tell Torts that we’ve been hearing the same thing for 10 years.

Anything the Flyer’s say is merely them trying to trick us as fans into not wanting to fire Chuck Fletcher.

The only thing thing that needs to be done is to fire the right people, (Fletcher, Clarke, Scott to start) and Flyers fans are back. The Flyers are just unwilling to remove these people from the decision making process in the organization.

I actually agree with jd250... the kid just screams power winger. I haven't personally seen enough creativity and deception in his game to suggest that he'd thrive as a pro center. His defensive game is not quite up to snuff either.

The Flyers certainly have an organizational need down the middle, but my feeling is that the minute Cutter cracks the lineup Torts will end up putting him on the wing, no matter what Chuck/Flahr's plan is (assuming all those characters are still around by then, lol).


- Tomahawk

I think he will get both, ala Laughton. I do like he is getting the reps there, the sample size is to small right now, to play center or for him to turn pro. I don't mind Cates playing center, I probably fee this way knowing the Flyers are in figure it out mode and not we close to competing mode. Playing center, it will help teach you both sides of the puck and get you more touches.

Letter to season ticket holders

- Dkos

Dear most gullible members of the fanbase,

Please come witness my massive hardon for Noah Cates in person. It's a true monument, up there with the Rocky statue and the Liberty Bell.

Oh, and please buy lots of tickets quick so Chuck and I don't get fired when we inevitably miss the PO's. I don't want to have to go back to ESPN and drop hot takes for money again.

Toodles, Torts xoxo

“It’s a retool, Charlie”

So basically this is Torts telling us we’re at least 2 years away. Someone needs to tell Torts that we’ve been hearing the same thing for 10 years.

Anything the Flyer’s say is merely them trying to trick us as fans into not wanting to fire Chuck Fletcher.

The only thing thing that needs to be done is to fire the right people, (Fletcher, Clarke, Scott to start) and Flyers fans are back. The Flyers are just unwilling to remove these people from the decision making process in the organization.
- Shrike

Ed Snider’s greatest quality is that he knew who to fire and when to do it.

The heck would they even issue a letter? STFU and coach. This won't or at least shouldn't make anyone feel better/worse.

Flyers STH and all Flyers fans should reject this letter outright. It's the same nonsense.
- MJL

Kind of weird that it’s coming from the coach and not the GM/president

Didn't Charlie O'Conner write a very encouraging report on Gauthier's season recently?
- MJL

This is what he wrote. Draw your own conclusion.

The Flyers have more than enough good forwards, both on their NHL club and in their prospect pool. What they desperately need is a great one, a player with star-level skill who can take over games and be the driving force on a Stanley Cup-contending club.

There’s no guarantee that Cutter Gauthier can reach that level. But he’s the one player in the prospect with that kind of upside.

Physically, Gauthier is one of the most impressive prospects in hockey. He’s a smooth-skating beast of a forward, capable of blasting through the neutral zone with the puck and blasting opposing players into the boards without it. He also possesses one of the best shots among current NHL prospects — he can beat goalies clean with his wrister or just straight-up overpower them with a one-timer. When netminders see Gauthier racing into the offensive zone with the puck, they’re on high alert. For good reason.

Thus far at Boston College, Gauthier has thrived playing center full-time after a bit of a slow start. While there are still some who believe he’ll ultimately prove best suited to the wing in the NHL, the Flyers have every intention of developing him as a center, seeing him as a sniping pivot in the Jeff Carter or even Leon Draisaitl mold. Can he stick in the middle? Will he remain as dominant physically at the pro level as he has been everywhere else? And does he have the hockey sense to take full advantage of his enviable tools? Those are the questions remaining for Gauthier to face. But his impressive freshman season at BC has kept the hope alive that he just might become the star forward the Flyers need so badly. — Charlie

Kind of weird that it’s coming from the coach and not the GM/president
- Dkos

I would bet that even at this point the organization knows the fans have soured on Fletcher and Dave Scott/Comcast.

If the Flyers keep forcing Cutter to play center, he will need to spend at least another year at BC before he is ready for the AHL. The Flyers should get securely in the top 10 and draft the best center available, and then let Cutter play win IMO.
- jd250

I support this thinking nut you know that the development here in this franchise never does anything the right way... I feel bad for our prospects and I sometimes wonder if they would have had better careers if they were drafted somewhere else.
Things were actually so bad with development that if they didn't hire Torts we would have another top 5 pick this year
Do you think that Torts recognized the lack of development happening here?
The kids clearly have talent but why has it taken so long for them to unlock it?
It's the Torts effect!
Wven though some disagree with Torts ways he really is making a strong, positive impact on the kids and team overall

“It’s a retool, Charlie”

So basically this is Torts telling us we’re at least 2 years away. Someone needs to tell Torts that we’ve been hearing the same thing for 10 years.

Anything the Flyer’s say is merely them trying to trick us as fans into not wanting to fire Chuck Fletcher.

The only thing thing that needs to be done is to fire the right people, (Fletcher, Clarke, Scott to start) and Flyers fans are back. The Flyers are just unwilling to remove these people from the decision making process in the organization.
- Shrike

Not at what you posted but I laugh at the notion that this team is 2 years away. I think that's hysterical.

That letter is nothing but BS.

I think he will get both, ala Laughton. I do like he is getting the reps there, the sample size is to small right now, to play center or for him to turn pro. I don't mind Cates playing center, I probably fee this way knowing the Flyers are in figure it out mode and not we close to competing mode. Playing center, it will help teach you both sides of the puck and get you more touches.
- wcorvette

But Cutter will most likely settle in on wing in the NHL. I don’t see him being as good as Cates defensively. Stylistically, he resembles Kreider.

Cates was most productive playing LW in college his first two years. He switched to center his junior year scoring only 5 goals as a 1C. His numbers ascended his senior year at center. Cates wouldn’t get as many minutes on a contender. But he’s a top 9 whether he’s a center or wing.

Bill, what is your gut feeling on how well they will do down the stretch ? This part of the season is "go time" for historical playoff contenders. They will not be sleep walking / taking nights off any longer. These last games are real. I think that's why Torts is offering a mixed bag of cheer. He's saying he has figured out things to this point, but he is going to learn a lot more in these last 30 games. And this will go a long way to deciding who they want to keep for next season and beyond. I think they will also look to dump money so they can create some flexibility. I don't think he expects to qualify for the playoffs, but wants to recognize the team for playing well enough to this point so they are theoretically "in reach" for spot. Ultimately it's better to evaluate players when there's something to play for.

Thoughts ?