Ducks' Cutter Gauthier joins Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews in impressive NHL history

Cutter Gauthier hasn't taken any time to announce his own arrival.

The Anaheim Ducks' winger is off to a prolific start to his NHL career, one that hasn't been matched since a couple of superstars were rookies themselves.

Gauthier has scored 10 goals in his first 12 games of the season. He is the first player 21 or younger to do that since 2018. That year, both Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews did it, according to the Ducks' PR team.

This isn't Gauthier's rookie season. He went No. 5 overall in the 2022 NHL Draft out of Boston College, taken by the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Flyers eventually traded Gauthier to the Ducks in January 2024 for a second-round pick and Jamie Drysdale.

Gauthier made his NHL debut after that trade, appearing in just one game to end that season and notching an assist.

In 2024-25, Gauthier was a full-time player for the Ducks, putting up 20 goals and 24 assists in 82 games.

So far this season, Gauthier has 10 goals and six assists in just 12 games.

He had a hat trick on Tuesday night in a 7-3 win over the Florida Panthers. Gauthier added an assist for good measure.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound left wing will turn 22 years old in January.

He also gets himself involved all around the ice. Last season, Gauthier had 51 blocks and 68 hits. This season, he's averaging a hit per game.

There's a lot of season, and a lot of career, still to go for Gauthier. But right now, he's playing exceptionally well and keeping great company.

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