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One of the Toronto Maple Leafs' Worst Draft Picks Signs New Deal Overseas
In 2013, the Toronto Maple Leafs used their 21st overall pick on center Frederik Gauthier, who turned out to be a huge mistake, given his performance.
During the mid-2010s, the Toronto Maple Leafs weren't always the best when it came to drafting players in the first round.
A great example of this is Frederik Gauthier, who was not a particularly good NHL player. He was taken with the 21st overall pick in the 2013 draft, and he never panned out for the Leafs.
His longest season with the Leafs lasted 70 games, and he only managed three goals and 14 points during this season. By 2022, he was out of the NHL.
Frederik Gauthier is going back to Switzerland
For two seasons, Gauthier found himself in the Swiss-A league, where he was playing for HC Ajoie, a team with which he had moderate success.
Last season, Gauthier played in the KHL, and once again, his numbers were just okay considering the league that he was playing in.
This week, it was revealed that the former Leaf had signed with Ajoie all over again, marking his official return to Switzerland.
This new deal with HC Ajoie is an interesting one, as it is just for three and a half months. If he plays well, he will be able to extend until the end of the season.
With that being said, the former Toronto Maple Leaf now has a platform to continue his hockey career, even if the NHL seems like a distant reality.
Ultimately, it is good to see players continue their dream, bolstering these foreign leagues, which have some high-quality hockey.
We wish Gauthier the best of luck with this season, going forward.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 7 | 120 ANSWERS One of the Toronto Maple Leafs' Worst Draft Picks Signs New Deal Overseas Do you believe Frederik Gauthier will ever return to the NHL? | ||
| YES | 18 | 15 % |
| NO | 102 | 85 % |
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