Philly legend Eric Lindros bashes Flyers for the Cutter Gauthier trade

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Tyler Ball
April 1, 2024 (10:25 PM)

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This afternoon a new interview with Philadelphia Flyers legend Eric Lindros surfaced. In the interview, Eric Lindros discusses the Cutter Gauthier trade and how he believes the Flyers poorly handled the situation.

Eric Lindros is notorious for being selected first overall by the Quebec Nordiques and refusing to sign with the franchise. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Flyers and became an icon for the franchise. Recently a similar situation happened involving the Flyers except this time they were the ones losing out.

Top prospect Cutter Gauthier was supposed to be a large part of the Philadelphia Flyers organization. However, earlier this year Cutter Gauthier was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for Jamie Drysdale. The move came after he told the organization he would not sign with them. After the trade fans, media, and even the organization themselves ripped into Cutter Gauthier for not wanting to sign.

Now in a new interview Flyers legend Eric Lindros spoke about the situation and had an interesting take on the whole thing.

Eric Lindros defends Cutter Gauthier and rips the Flyers

In Eric Lindros' interview with The Hockey News he was asked about Cutter Gauthier's decision to be traded. A bit surprisingly he is on the side of Cutter Gauthier in this case and not the Flyers organization.

"I had a great time in Philly," said Lindros. "But if he thinks he's going to have a better time someplace else, then go for it. It's a player's right. The better the city and the organization treats a guy, the more it's going to attract guys. That's a big part of it."

He goes on to continue and puts the blame on the Flyers organization for not doing more to make Cutter Gauthier feel valued and wanted in Philadelphia.

(The Flyers should) accentuate that you got a player you coveted. But you don't mention the guy who didn't want to go to your team.

Finally, as if that was not enough Eric Lindros also was frustrated with how the organization framed the trade. He wishes GM Danny Briere would have focused more on the player they got in Jamie Drysdale instead of the situation that led to Cutter Gauthier's departure.

I would have focused on just saying, 'We wanted Jamie Drysdale and we had to give up this player, Lindros said in an interview with The Hockey News over the weekend. . That's how I would have dealt with it. I wouldn't have publicized the situation. I would have just traded the kid."

Now of course Eric Lindros was once in Cutter Gauthier's exact position essentially so he likely has more empathy for the young star than most. He does bring up good points about how focused the Flyers were on placing blame everywhere else but themselves.

Source: Blade of Steel - NHL Legend Eric Lindros opens up about Cutter Gauthier