Blue Line Station
Fansided

A battle brewing on right wing

By Steve Paulus

Nov 20, 2019; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers left wing Pavel Buchnevich (89) controls the puck in front of Washington Capitals defenseman Radko Gudas (33) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2019; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers left wing Pavel Buchnevich (89) controls the puck in front of Washington Capitals defenseman Radko Gudas (33) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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New York Rangers right wing Julien Gauthier (12). Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
New York Rangers right wing Julien Gauthier (12). Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Julien Gauthier: Untapped potential

Many have penciled Gauthier into a top nine role, based on his size and skill set.  Not so fast.  While at 6’4″ he is the tallest Ranger forward and at 230 pounds is the heaviest player on the team, he has yet to live up to the promise that made him a Carolina first round draft pick, compared as a power forward to Rick Nash.  He was the 21st overall pick in the 2016 draft, selected before fellow Rangers Brett Howden (#27), Libor Hajek (#37),  Ryan Lindgren (#49) and Adam Fox (#66).

While Gauthier has been a proven scorer in the AHL with 16 and 27 goals the last two seasons, he has yet to score a goal in 17 NHL games, with three assists.

Gauthier made the Hurricanes out of training camp last season, but was demoted to Charlotte after two games and then was promoted again for three games in December, when he notched his first NHL point, an assist against the Calgary Flames.

On February 18, the Hurricanes swapped him to the Rangers in exchange for defense prospect Joey Keane who was as All-Star for the Hartford Wolf Pack.  Gauthier spent the rest of the season with the Rangers and also played in the three game sweep by the Canes in the Stanley Cup Qualifier.  He averaged 8:39 minutes of ice time per game and added two assists in 12 games.

While at times he displayed his speed and used his size, he wasn’t the physical presence the Rangers were looking for and if he expects to stick with the team, he will need to pick up that part of his game.  With the Rangers desire to become a harder to play against, Gauthier has the size to fit that description, the question is whether he will use it.

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