Taylor Gauthier

June 2023 – In his first pro hockey season, Gauthier had the typical struggles that come along with a Goaltender transitioning from junior hockey to pro. After starting the 2022-23 season in the ECHL, Gauthier earned a December call-up to the AHL. He ended the AHL season with a 2.71 goals-against average along with a 0.907 save percentage. While these numbers are not the outstanding metrics that he achieved in junior, they are a stepping stone to improve on next year. Gauthier is an athletic goaltender who can sometimes lose his structure and technical foundation in favor of the desperation save. While this can be exciting to watch as a fan sometimes projecting a goaltender who relies so heavily on athleticism to continue this as the level of competition increases can be tricky. Pittsburgh has a crowded prospect pool at the goaltender position if Gauthier can set himself apart with a good AHL season next year he could find himself a path to the NHL. However, the longer a breakout in the AHL takes the more likely it is that some of the other players in the Penguins system who are younger will pass him over. Tyler Ball

June 2022 – In his overage season, Gauthier led the WHL with a 0.928 save percentage and was fourth in goals-against with an average of 2.34. Before being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, he had an incredible 0.937 save percentage and 1.92 goals-against average – league best in both categories. Gauthier is an athletic goaltender, capable of stealing games and making desperation saves. However, the overarching critique throughout his junior career has been his poor rebound control and tendency to scramble. However, his stellar numbers and international resume with Canada speak for themselves. Kyle Watson

March 2022 – Gauthier joins the Penguins system on a three-year ELC that begins next season. The overage goaltender has a 16-2-0 record since joining the Portland Winterhawks. He will finish the season in the WHL and try and add a Memorial Cup to an impressive junior resume which includes a WJC silver medal and a Hlinka-Gretzky gold medal. Next season he will likely compete to start in Wilkes-Barre with Filip Lindberg. Kyle Watson