2023 NHL Draft prospect Gauthier discussed on 'NHL Draft Class' podcast

The 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held June 28-29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. The first round will be June 28 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS) and rounds 2-7 are June 29 (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS). NHL.com is counting down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects, podcasts and other features. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

Ethan Gauthier has the type of game that NHL coaches crave during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, according to Jean-Francois Damphousse of the NHL Central Scouting.

"I look at the playoffs right now and the teams that are doing good have players that are gritty, in your face, finishing checks, really good down low around the net, and I think Gauthier brings that type of game," Damphousse told the "NHL Draft Class" podcast. "Those are the reasons he's the No. 1 prospect from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League ... he brings some intangibles that we all really like."

The right wing with Sherbrooke of the QMJHL is No. 16 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters presented by BioSteel. He finished fourth on the Phoenix with 69 points (30 goals, 39 assists) in 66 regular-season games. The right-handed shot (5-foot-11, 176 pounds) scored seven power-play goals and had five game-winning goals.

Damphousse also discussed Moncton defenseman Etienne Morin (6-0, 180), No. 19 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters. Gauthier and Morin are each possible first-round candidates in the 2023 draft.

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Morin had 72 points (21 goals, 51 assists) in 67 regular-season games this season and 17 points (two goals, 15 assists) in 12 playoff games.

"With Etienne, it's the hockey sense, the puck skill, the poise with the puck, and his ability to sort out the options in front of him," Damphousse said. "To me, that's the difference-maker with his game. He can find shot paths around the net and I think his defensive play has gotten better throughout the season."

Co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale also learned of some of the dark horse candidates to watch in their discussion with Damphousse, including several players who could be chosen in the middle of the NHL draft.

The podcast is free, and listeners can subscribe on all podcast platforms, including iTunes, Spotify and Google Podcasts. It also is available on NHL.com/multimedia/podcasts and the NHL app.

Listen: New episode of NHL Draft Class