Joined: Aug. 2018
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I think if its was just Gautheir versus Drysdale on potential alone and what we've seen so far, its very close.
But adding in the very high in the round ANA 2nd and that Gautheir has been "tricksy" about signing in PHI, I'd give a slight edge to PHI.
In 2 months time, when Gautheir's season was over in college, and he didnt sign with PHI, his value would have been less.
PHI obviosly did their research on Drysdale (injuries) and with York, Drysdale, ANdrae, Bonk, Helge, and Ginning have a pretty good pool/mix of LD/RD youngsters. And they have a plethora of young forwards in NHL (Farabee, Foerster, brink, frost, tippett, poehling) and some prospects playing great (Mitchkov and Barkey for 2) then forward depth is hurt, but not tons.
Add in that they have 3 of the first 40 picks in 2024 draft and 3 picks in the first 50 or so in 2025 draft (as well as whatever they get for walker, seeler, etc...).
So overall, if both players hit their potential, really its that high in the round 2nd that still gives PHI a slight edge