Lightning forward prospect Ethan Gauthier is learning how to be a pro

BRANDON — As one of the Lightning’s top prospects, forward Ethan Gauthier has picked up quickly on the importance of learning the ins and outs of being a pro.

He used his second development camp last week as an opportunity to watch everything around him, including the NHL players at TGH IcePlex who were doing informal offseason workouts on their own. The group included Lightning star Nikita Kucherov, center Nick Paul and former Bolts Alex Killorn, Pat Maroon, Tanner Jeannot and Andrej Sustr.

Last year was Gauthier’s introduction to the Lightning, who traded up for the opportunity to draft him in the second round (with the 37th overall pick) of the 2023 draft. Now, coming off a strong season at the major junior level in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, the 19-year-old’s game continues to progress.

“All the details are important to be a pro,” Gauthier said. “I learned those, and I have to keep learning, because I’m far from where I want to be. I’ll be doing everything I can in the next few years to get up there.”

Given the NHL’s 82-game season, players have to think long-term with their training regimen. Gauthier said warmup and recovery are important aspects of it. It’s not just about being able to skate or shoot.

“You don’t want to rush things; you want to make sure you get everything in and go step by step,” Gauthier said. “When you look at (the NHL players) in the gym, they spend like an hour or 45 minutes after practice, before practice taking care of their bodies, making sure they’re warmed up and all that.

“Those are things that people don’t really see, but being here kind of opened my eyes to that and kind of rang a bell of just knowing that’s what you’ve got to do to be here.”

Gauthier said he watched players like Kucherov, who led the league in points last season, work on the little details. He recalled watching the Hart Trophy finalist practice catching a puck off the boards and passing it back 100 times.

“They’ve been where I am right now,” Gauthier said. “When you see guys like Kucherov and Nick Paul, they were around here this morning on the ice, and we’re in July and they’re on the edges just working on the little details. So, that’s what (being a) pro is all about. And that’s where I want to be one day, and I know that’s what I’ve got to do to get here one day, for sure.”

Lightning assistant general manager/director of player development Stacy Roest said it’s a positive that prospects like Gauthier have the opportunity to observe the NHL guys when they’re around.

“The players that are in town working here, they’re here on their own working,” Roest said. “They do what they have to do to work on their craft, and it’s great for our guys to be around them. ... They are very talented, very dedicated, and it’s going to rub off on the younger guys, for sure.”

Last season, Gauthier led Drummondville with 71 points (including a career-high 36 goals) in 64 regular-season games. He also had a team-high 25 points, including 14 goals, in 19 playoff games, leading Drummondville to its first QMJHL title in 15 years and a berth in the Memorial Cup.

Gauthier called the deep playoff run a “precious experience.” He will return to Drummondville for another season, potentially two, before turning pro and officially entering the Lightning system.

But he is already getting acclimated to the organization.

“I gained a lot of maturity in many aspects — not only on the ice, but off the ice,” Gauthier said. “Just being around these type of guys — trainers, staff, gym coaches — you just learn so much in not a lot of time. So, I was fortunate enough to be here last year and just come to the right mindset of learning.”

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