Nathan Gaucher is a highly competitive two-way center who has a formidable frame and some good physical tools. He uses his big body effectively, throws his weight around, leans on opponents, has a rocket of a shot and some really nice touch around the net. He does it all in every situation. He’s a beast on the cycle, can make the occasional sneaky pass and, while he doesn’t string together a collection of maneuvers in sequence, his hands are decent enough to go forehand to backhand and show some patience to out-wait a goalie. He’s a nightmare for defenders to face, as he’s very comfortable with the puck on his stick while at top speed. When he wants access to a patch of ice there isn’t much that stops him. He challenges opponents one-on-one, can drive to the net like he’s skating downhill, shoot in-stride, or dip his shoulder and pull pucks around the defenseman. As an offensive net-front presence he is at an NHL level already. He creates screens and can slip away from defenders and find loose pucks and rebounds. He has no wasted movements or hesitation and the puck is on and off his stick in an instant. He comes back deep in his zone to support his defensemen, and he’s really good at picking up speed behind the puck and gaining possession in full flight. Defensively, he puts in a lot of effort on the backcheck, takes away passing lanes and attempts to gain inside positioning. He can anticipate sudden changes in possession, defend the slot area and identify potential threats. Gaucher doesn’t have a lot of glaring deficiencies but he would benefit from increased stride frequency. Continued skill development will show he’s NHL potential as a second line center or first line winger.

– FCHockey’s 2022 NHL Draft Guide