Eric Lindros calls out the Flyers for the Cutter Gauthier trade
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Julien Trekker
April 2, 2024 (1:06 PM)
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Photo credit: Steven M. Falk - The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Flyers legend Eric Lindros called out his former team for how they handled the Cutter Gauther trade to the Anaheim Ducks.
Lindros lived the same kind of situation than Gauthier when he joined the League. He was drafted first overall by the Quebec Nordiques, but refused to sign there and was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, where he became a star.
Lindros discussed Gauthier's choice to ask for a trade in a recent interview. Surprisingly, he sided with Gauthier and not the Flyers.
"I had a great time in Philly. 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."
Lindros suggested that the Flyers should have focused on making Gauthier feel important and wanted in Philadelphia, instead of focusing on his refusal.
"(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."
Lindros also expressed frustration with how the Flyers handled the trade. He wished that the general manager, Daniel Briere, had focused on Jamie Drysdale's acquisition rather than the drama surrounding Gauthier.
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."
Do you agree with Lindros about the fact that the Flyers didn't handle Gauthier's trade well?