Jacob Gaucher’s dream remains more alive than ever

Jacob Gaucher had the chance to fulfill a dream on Monday by stepping onto the ice at the Bell Centre to face the Canadiens in a preseason game. Although he still has many more strides to take before reaching the NHL, he feels more than ever on the threshold of the big league.

« I could see my family in the stands. Honestly, it was incredible. Just during the warm-up, I was shaking a little. The Bell Centre is somewhat intimidating. »

The Habs put on a great show for their fans in their first preseason game, crushing the Flyers by a score of 5-0. Gaucher spent 13 minutes on the ice and handled himself relatively well in challenging circumstances. He notably played over 30 seconds on a two-man disadvantage, not allowing the Canadiens any scoring chances during that time. His performance earned him a second audition on Thursday against the Islanders in Philadelphia.

« It was my first time playing a preseason game at home. I was impressed by the fans’ energy. Philadelphia isn’t Montreal, but it’s still a big market, » he states.

Faceoff specialist

Ian Laperrière took the helm behind the Flyers’ bench for the first two games and assigned Gaucher to the right role, taking advantage of his knowledge from their previous season together in the AHL. The imposing number 78 emerged as Laperrière’s trusted choice for defensive zone faceoffs, and he delivered by boasting a remarkable 71% success rate in Montreal and 64% against the Islanders. No Flyers player averaged better efficiency in the dots over those two games.

« I take a lot of pride in my efficiency on faceoffs. It was sometimes more intimidating against NHL players, like Christian Dvorak in Montreal. It’s a different level, but I think I did alright, » Gaucher modestly explains, having won 4 out of 6 duals in the dot against Dvorak, known as the Habs’ faceoff specialist. The 23-year-old center says that his father, Yannick, instilled in him and his younger brother Nathan— Anaheim Ducks’ first-round pick for in 2022—the importance of being effective in all aspects of the game from a young age. While many players focused primarily on offense, their father, now the general manager of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the QMJHL, emphasized on the importance of being versatile. The Flyers prospect believes this approach has made him and his brother the players they are today. However, Jacob doesn’t hesitate to call himself the favorite in a situation where the two brothers would face off in a crucial late-game draw.

« If I’m on my strong side against my brother, there’s no way I’m losing it. Nathan (Gaucher) is solid in faceoffs: we train hard during the summer to improve in that area, but there’s no way he’s winning that draw against me, » the older brother says while laughing. He believes that his effectiveness in this aspect could set him apart from other prospects in the long run and help him reach the next level.

Reaching the next level

Gaucher will kick off his second season in the AHL with the goal of contributing to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in his distinct role while also looking to add a more offensive dimension to his game. Without sacrificing his identity as a versatile player, the center wants to be able to get his name on the scoresheet with more consistency, something he has done at every other level before.

After a brief adjustment period in his first professional season in 2022-23, he quickly became one of his ECHL team’s main offensive dynamos. He had an impressive end to the campaign, racking up 22 points in 15 games in March, and then maintained a production rate of over a point per game during the playoffs. His play earned him a promotion to the AHL for the next season. In fact, he is the only player in the Flyers organization to have graduated from the ECHL to the AHL on a regular basis in 2023-24.

Matvei Michkov

At 23 years old, Gaucher is one of the organization’s older prospects: « I’m getting a bit more comfortable during practices and off the ice. I try to help the younger guys. » The Quebec-native centerman has skated alongside the talented Matvei Michkov in recent weeks. Drafted 7th overall by the Flyers in 2023, the young Russian winger has been making headlines lately. Gaucher had the opportunity to get to know him during the rookie tournament and more recently at the team’s official training camp.

« You can see the potential right away. What he does with the puck, his vision of the game, his hands… it’s impressive, » says Gaucher, adding that the sky’s the limit for the new fan favorite in Philadelphia. Michkov has already collected 6 points in 3 preseason games, including a game-winning goal in overtime against the Bruins on Saturday.

« He’s not someone who relies solely on his talent, which gives him an edge. He stays after practices to improve his shot. He also plays with a lot of emotion and is very involved. We saw it against the Islanders; he scored an empty-net goal and jumped into the boards out of excitement. He loves hockey, and that’s what will make him a very good player, » he adds.

Many are still wondering how the relationship between Matvei Michkov and Flyers head coach John Tortorella will unfold, as both are known as being as passionate as somewhat controversial. On Saturday, Tortorella praised Michkov’s talent, stating that the team has needed a player of his caliber for a long time. He aims to give the rookie the freedom on the ice necessary to avoid stifling his creativity.

Additionally, according to Gaucher, it’s best not to have misconceptions about the Flyers’ head coach: « We often hear in the media about the infamous rope test and demanding practices. (John Tortorella) knows what he’s doing: he is close to his players, the chemistry is good, and he is appreciated. He pushes his guys to the next level, and we saw that last year with the Flyers. They exceeded many expectations (…) I’m really looking forward to seeing Michkov’s development this year. I think he’ll be placed in a position to succeed, » Gaucher says.

As of now, the 23-year-old has yet to sign an NHL contract, but he is steadily climbing the ranks in professional hockey. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms’ season will kick off on October 12, and before thw, Gaucher does not rule out the possibility of playing more preseason games for the Flyers. « Taking my game to the next level to eventually make it to the NHL is definitely still my dream, » he admits.