Lightning Draft Ethan Gauthier, Trades Corey Perry's Rights For Pick

The Lightning team came to Nashville this week with just three picks — none before the sixth round — in this year’s draft, but they had plans to make a bigger splash on Lower Broadway.

General manager Julien BriseBois told amateur scouting director Al Murray to “be prepared for anything,” and Murray’s staff always had targets ready. BriseBois moved up to 37th overall on Wednesday, the fifth pick of the second round by trading forward Ross Colton to Colorado. On Thursday, Tampa Bay moved into the fourth round, recouping the pick it sent to Nashville in February as part of the Tanner-Jeannot trade for the 2024 fourth-rounder it received in the 2022 takeover of Chicago’s Brandon Hagel .

The Lightning used their first pick to choose a player who seems to fit their “bolt” mentality: right winger Ethan Gauthier. The 18-year-old recently completed his second season with the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Their fourth-round pick brought in Jayson Shaugabay, the top high school hockey player in the nation’s largest hockey state, Minnesota.

The Lightning parted ways with upcoming unrestricted free agent Corey Perry, sending his rights to the Blackhawks for a seventh-round pick in next year’s draft. Chicago has exclusive bargaining rights with Perry, who scored 31 of his 417 career goals and 65 of his 833 points in his two seasons at Tampa Bay, until free agency opens at noon Saturday.

The Lightning officially parted ways with upcoming unrestricted free agent Corey Perry Thursday, trading his rights to the Blackhawks for a seventh-round pick in 2024. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]

Gauthier entered the Bridgestone Arena on day two of the draft but was disappointed not to be accepted in Wednesday’s first round. But as he glanced at the board to see which teams had the first few picks in the second, one thing stood out.

“I told my brother right before the start of the day that the best thing that could happen to me (Thursday) was if I got drafted by Tampa,” Gauthier said. “They embody the very identity of the team I wanted to join, a team that plays with guts, intensity, level of competition, energy and obviously has some skills.”

These are some of the same traits the Lightning seek when recruiting players, regardless of the turn. Gauthier showed tremendous offensive ability with Sherbrooke last season, amassing 30 goals and 69 points in 62 games and winning the 2022-23 Mike Bossy Trophy (awarded to the QMJHL’s top pick in the upcoming NHL Draft). Despite his size (5-11-1/2, 183 pounds), which may put some teams off, the Lightning consider him a complete two-way player.

The Lightning selected forward Ethan Gauthier in the second round of the NHL Draft 37th overall. [ TERRY WYATT | Getty Images ]

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“We had him as a valuable player in the first round,” Murray said. “And he’s a bolt all day. He has a lot of flair for hockey, competition and skill, so he brings the whole package. He’s not the greatest physically, but no one told him that because he plays quite physically. So he has all the qualities.”

Late Thursday night, BriseBois issued a press release announcing that Murray, who has overseen 13 drafts for the Lightning, has been promoted to the position of senior advisor to the general manager. Longtime amateur scout John Rosso, who has served as the organization’s assistant player human resources director since 2019, will be responsible for all amateur scouting operations and draft preparation and execution going forward.

Gauthier was the first pick in the 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft, so his offensive prowess is well known. But he also showed the ability to play physically and work hard defensively. Murray said he has the flexibility to fill any of the three forward spots along all four lines.

“He’s the guy who gives himself 12 chances to get into the forward group,” Murray said.

Shaugabay, 18, was the Minnesota Mr. Hockey this year, an award that goes to the state’s top high school player.

“It’s just a really exciting feeling, a feeling that I’ll never forget, and also a feeling that was always dreamed of as a kid,” Shaugabay said in a phone interview. “To finally experience that is something very special. I didn’t really know where I was going, but I’m very excited about where I went.”

Shaugabay had 33 goals and 96 points in 32 games as a Warroad High School senior. His 304 points during his four-year career surpassed the school record set by his cousin, current NHL player TJ Oshie.

“He just wiped out their career and season scoring stats,” Murray said. “He’s an elite attacking player. He has flair and skill for hockey. And like many young players, it will take him some time to get bigger, stronger and faster. So there’s no need to rush it as it still has a few years to go. But he brings the skill that we expect from the players.”

Shaugabay will play full-time for USHL Green Bay this season — he’s skated part-time for the Gamblers the past two seasons — before making the move to collegiate hockey. He is committed to Minnesota-Duluth.

The Lightning selected defenseman Warren Clark in the sixth round. Clark had six goals and 32 assists in 55 games for the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Steinbach Pistons last season. He will play at St. Cloud State, which produced Lightning defender Nick Perbix. Murray said that Clark had similar characteristics with his height (1.80 m, 185 pounds), smooth running and composure with the puck in position.

With the first of their two seventh-round picks, the Lightning centers chose Jack Harvey of USHL team Chicago Steel. Harvey, 20, had 40 goals and 34 assists in 62 games last season. At 5’7″ and weighing 176 pounds, he was skipped in the previous two drafts. Murray said the Lightning like Harvey’s skills and that he has improved his competitiveness as he prepares to play at Boston University.

The Lightning selected defensive-minded center Ethan Hay of the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League as the final pick. Hay, 6’1″ and 190 pounds, scored 17 goals and 11 assists in 64 games last season. Murray said the 18-year-old can fill all three forward positions, is strong in the face circle and has a “bite” that shows strong checking play.

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