Gaucher's physical game opening eyes ahead of 2022 NHL Draft

The 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held at Bell Centre in Montreal on July 7-8. NHL.com is counting down to the draft with profiles and other features. Today, a look at center Nathan Gaucher of Quebec in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

Nathan Gaucher takes pride in being an intimidating factor for Quebec of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
"I like to get to that dump-and-chase game, get some hits," he said. "I like it when people are kind of afraid of playing against me and don't want to get into a battle with me. This is what drives me to play even harder."
The right-shot center (6-foot-3, 207 pounds) is easily recognized whenever he takes the ice, but it's his ability to get pucks to the net using his size and strength that has scouts convinced he's a legitimate first-round pick in the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft.
"He's a big center who does a lot of little things well that coaches appreciate," Jean-Francois Damphousse of NHL Central Scouting said. "He'll win you face-offs, kill penalties, is physical and reliable on both sides of the puck. Is he going to be a second line or third line guy? It's debatable, but I think he's a good prospect with a mature body who's still progressing."
Gaucher,
No. 19 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters
, finished third on Quebec with 57 points (31 goals, 26 assists), scored five power-play goals and was tied with three other players for the QMJHL lead with five shorthanded goals in 66 games. He also won 59.2 percent of his face-offs.
He has eight points (three goals, five assists) and has won 59.2 percent of his face-offs in nine QMJHL playoff games. Quebec is playing Shawinigan in the semifinals.
"I played power play, penalty kill, 5-on-6 and 6-on-5," Gaucher said. "It's nice to be used by [coach] Patrick Roy in that way and have a great role on the team. A lot of players would say they enjoy the power play most, but I like penalty killing because the power play, to me, is moving it around in the zone. I like to pressure my opponent and create turnovers. I like to take advantage of the softness of the power play."

He was rewarded for his play this season, earning big ice time for Roy, a four-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche.
"He's a legend in hockey," Gaucher said of Roy, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006. "He played in a lot of Stanley Cup Playoff games, won a lot of Stanley Cups, so it's the experience that he brings us. And when we have questions, we go to him and he's got the answer. He's got examples to prove his answer."
Said Damphousse, "Obviously Patrick has something special. He's had such a great career and success as a coach as well. Obviously when he recommends some players you have to listen to him."
Nathan's brother, Jacob Gaucher, is in his fourth full QMJHL season and first with Baie-Comeau. He spent the previous three with Val-d'Or. The 21-year-old forward was invited to Boston Bruins camp in September 2019, and Vegas Golden Knights camp in September 2021.
"Jacob is good at what he does, and I think he's the perfect two-way forward," Nathan said. "He wins a lot of face-offs and is so intelligent. He's a great model for me and I'm just trying to learn through him and my dad."

His brother's advice seems to be rubbing off. Nathan, an assistant captain with Quebec, was named team student for the month of March.
Gaucher, of Richelieu, Quebec, had one goal, two shots and a plus-2 rating in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Kitchener, Ontario, on March 23.
"In the CHL Top Prospects Game it's always nice to score; it was a great pass from Antonin Verreault, my teammate in Quebec," Gaucher said. "It was a great experience. At the start everyone was shy, but as soon as you put on the skates you can feel the camaraderie, and there were a lot of people watching us in the stands, so it was a lot of fun."
Photo credit: Quebec, QMJHL
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