Former Maple Leafs First-Rounder Still Fighting to Keep His Career Alive at 30
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Former Maple Leafs draft pick Frederik Gauthier has signed a part-time deal with Swiss League team HC Ajoie as he gauges how best to continue his professional career.
Several NHL players decide that when they aren't able to find a deal in free agency for a North American squad, they end up going overseas in order to keep their careers alive and try to impress enough for a future offer down the line.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have seen their fair share of players head elsewhere this offseason, with the likes of Topi Niemala, Joseph Blandisi and Mikko Kokkonen all leaving for a bigger opportunity elsewhere.
While he's not a current Maple Leaf, you can add one more former player to the list headed to Europe. According to reports, Frederik Gauthier will be signing a part-time deal with HC Ajoie of the Swiss League.
The team put out an announcement on social media as well, welcoming the former NHLer.
Why Frederik Gauthier's Short-Term Deal Represents a Last Chance to Prove He Still Belongs
The deal runs until mid-November which will give Gauthier some time to get acclimated and see if he's able to carve out a career over in Switzerland.
Drafted 21st overall in 2013, he never panned out in Toronto and could be considered one of their worst picks in recent memory. Playing in only 168 games with the team, he registered 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists) before being let go in free agency.
For comparison, Toronto picked Gauthier over Shea Theodore, Andre Burakovsky, Ryan Hartman, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Jake Guentzel.
He spent time with Arizona and New Jersey, spending 10 games combined and registering no points. He put up 144 points in three seasons with Rimouski, but never was able to translate that at the NHL level.
Gauthier played for HC Ajoie back from 2022-2024 before heading over to the KHL last season where he put up 21 points in 54 games (13 goals, 8 assists).
It is a bit peculiar to see a player sign for basically a couple of months before deciding things but with his history already with Ajoie, they feel like he's trying to get his footing back and want to make sure they don't overcommit.
While he seems to be able to have a better career overseas, it's a far cry from the type of player that Gauthier was expected to be, and now it looks like he'll become yet another NHL bust who needed to find work elsewhere.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 6 | 1343 ANSWERS Former Maple Leafs First-Rounder Still Fighting to Keep His Career Alive at 30 Do you think Frederik Gauthier will end up back in the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 261 | 19.4 % |
| No | 1082 | 80.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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