This season Bolt Prospects introduced our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their on-ice contributions.
We wanted to highlight prospects throughout the year to help fans get better acquainted with the next round of Lightning stars while recognizing the prospect’s achievement on the ice.
This week’s BP Prospect of the Week award goes to … Danick Gauthier, C, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL).
A “bonus pick†for the Lightning, Gauthier was signed to a free agent contract by the Bolts in March while Gauthier was on his way to a career year in the QMJHL for Saint John (47-39-86). Gauthier hasn’t slowed down in the playoffs, scoring 12 times in 16 playoff games while adding seven assists.
This past week Gauthier had three goals and an assist in the first three games of the league’s President Cup finals series against Rimouski. His biggest game was Game 3 on the road, when he was named first star for scoring two goals in Saint John’s 6-4 win. The Sea Dogs can win their second-straight championship Thursday night in Rimouski as they are up 3-0 in the series going into Game 4.
Gauthier has been Saint John’s No.1 faceoff man throughout much of the playoffs while logging significant ice time. He is frequently among team leaders it hits, too.
Next year Gauthier will be in the AHL most likely, beginning his professional career with the Lightning’s AHL affiliate. He is eligible to play in the ECHL if need-be.
Honorable Mention: Sebastien Piche [6], D, Florida Everblades
Previous BP Prospects of the Week:
Alex Killorn [7], Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - May 2, 2012 [8]
Riku Helenius [9], JYP (Finland) - April 25, 2012 [10]
Cory Conacher [11], Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - April 16, 2012 [12]
Mark Barberio [13], Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - April 11, 2012 [14]
Tyler Johnson [15], Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - April 4, 2012 [16]
Norfolk Admirals Hockey Club (AHL) - March 27, 2012 [17]
Richard Panik [18], Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - March 21, 2012 [19]
Tyler Johnson, Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - March 13, 2012 [20]
Danick Gauthier, Saint John (QMJHL) - March 6, 2012 [21]
Matt Peca, Quinnipiac (NCAA) - February 29, 2012 [22]
Pat Nagle [23], Florida (ECHL) - February 21, 2012 [24]
Alex Hutchings [25], Florida (ECHL) - February 14, 2012 [26]
Alex Killorn, Harvard (NCAA) - February 6, 2012 [27]
Adam Wilcox [28], Tri-City (USHL) and Alex Killorn, Harvard (NCAA) - January 30, 2012 [29]
Nikita Kucherov [30], CSKA Jr. (Russia) - January 24, 2012 [31]
Riku Helenius, JYP (Finland) - January 16, 2012 [32]
Brett Connolly [33], Canada (U20 WJC) - January 10, 2012 [34]
*Due to the Christmas break when few games below the NHL level were played, no POTW award was given.
Mark Barberio, Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - December 19, 2011 [35]
Vladislav Namestnikov [36], London Knights (OHL) - December 12, 2011 [37]
Tyler Johnson, Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - December 5, 2011 [38]
Alex Killorn, Harvard (NCAA) - November 28, 2011 [39]
Nikita Kucherov, Team Russia/CSKA Jr. (MHL) - November 21, 2011 [40]
Vladislav Namestnikov, London Knights (OHL) - November 14, 2011 [41]
Dustin Tokarski [42], Norfolk Admirals (AHL) - November 6, 2011 [43]
Riku Helenius, JYP (Finland) - October 30, 2011 [44]
Matthew Peca [45], Quinnipiac Bobcats - October 23, 2011 [46]
Radko Gudas [47], Norfolk Admirals - October 16, 2011 [46]
Carter Ashton [48], Norfolk Admirals - October 9, 2011 [49]
Brett Connolly, Tampa Bay Lightning - October 2, 2011 [50]
Mattias Ritola [51], Tampa Bay Lightning - September 25, 2011 [52]