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Could Prince George Cougars’ Taylor Gauthier become a Toronto Maple Leaf? One sports writer is predicting so

NHL Draft takes place virtually this week
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer
Cougars-Leafs-Gauthier - Oct. 5, 2020
A mock 2020 NHL Draft has Prince George Cougars goaltender Taylor Gauthier getting picked by the Toronto Maple Leafs. (via Brett Cullen Photography/NHL)

In all the craziness of COVID-19, even Taylor Gauthier is hoping for some sort of breakthrough on the hockey front.

As his fourth Western Hockey League season with the Prince George Cougars is currently on hold, he’s had to wait several months for the delayed 2020 NHL Draft, which is scheduled to take place virtually on Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 6 and 7).

He was snubbed from the 2019 draft in Vancouver.

The 19-year-old, coincidentally this year, is ranked 19th among North American goaltenders out of 31 in total heading into draft week, as per NHL Central Scouting’s final report on April 8.

So, by virtue of his ranking, Gauthier is likely to be picked by a team in need of a netminder in the fifth, sixth or seventh round.

Where does that put him in terms of which NHL market he could be visiting?

The Athletic’s Corey Pronman recently attempted, what he describes as, ‘the literal impossible’ and predicted the entire 2020 draft from first to 217th.

Gauthier is the only Prince George Cougar he expects to be picked this year, believing he may end up donning the Toronto Maple Leafs’ blue and white sweater.

"This doesn't account for trades, of which I'm sure there will be many, as teams trade up and down," explains Pronman.

Pronman has Gauthier getting selected by the original six franchise 153rd overall in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, which aligns with NHL Central Scouting’s prediction too.

If Pronman’s ‘bracket’ stays true, Gauthier would be the 12th goaltender to be drafted this year, seven spots higher than his current 19th ranking.

Granted, this is one reporter’s prediction, but Pronman may not be entirely off.

Gauthier has had several improvements, accolades and invites in recent months, including the oldest goaltender invited to Canada’s World Under-20 virtual summer camp, meaning his chances of making the squad for Edmonton this year are high.

Last season with the Cats, he combined for a 2.93 goals-against average and a .917 save-percentage in 50 games before the season was cancelled by COVID-19.

In the 2019 NHL Scouting Combine, the Calgary product had the best squat jump of any other player that attended, reaching as high as 23.19 inches (almost two feet), roughly four-and-a-half inches higher than second place.

He’s also been invited by the Boston Bruins numerous times to train in the off-season and compete in NHL pre-season tournaments.

So, will lady luck be on Gauthier’s side this year?

Will he be drafted to the NHL? Will Pronman’s prediction come to life?

These are the questions Prince George is hoping will be answered this week.

The first round of the 2020 draft is set for tomorrow at 4 p.m. Pacific, with rounds two through seven to take place Wednesday starting at 8:30 a.m.