When this season started, Julien Gauthier was sent down to Hartford and did not make the starting roster for the New York Rangers. He had a decent pre-season and while he did not score, he looked noticeable. However, it was not enough to make the team. Now a month later, Gauthier is making an impact and is looking like a lock to play every night.
While he may not be lighting up the score sheet every game, Gauthier has been noticeable for most of the games he has played so far. One way he makes an impact is his ability to draw penalties and give the Rangers the power play, which is a key factor in their game. In almost every game, Gauthier uses his speed or makes a move that gets him tripped, hooked, or slashed and draws a penalty. His speed is also a key factor in his game.
Gauthier is in the line-up over Ryan Reaves. One of the reasons why is his speed and the fact that he is way faster than Reaves. While Reaves can bring that physical presence, he does not need to play every night. Gauthier’s speed allows him to get to the net for a scoring chance or allows his teammates to get an opportunity to score. His speed is also why he draws penalties. If the Rangers want to keep that speed in the line-up, Reaves will have to sit more than he plays.
The major criticism of Gauthier is his lack of scoring. He has all the tools to be a goal-scorer in the NHL but just has not put it all together. He has the speed and can drive to the net. Once he gets there, he sometimes does not even get a shot or if he does, it is one that is very stoppable. If he can find a way to score more goals, he will become a regular in the Rangers line-up.
Overall, Gauthier is trying to make the most of this opportunity because this could be his last chance. It is public knowledge that he requested a trade from the team and he could have sat out until a trade came or he could work to try and make the best of the situation. He decided to work hard and so far, his chances of staying in the line-up have never looked better.