This is also true. A player to look at in that camp would be someone like Ryan O'Reilly, although, O'Reilly still put up better numbers at an earlier age, entered the NHL at an earlier age, and so we don't know how he would have done if he would have gone back to Junior Hockey. He did put up 66 points in 68 games the year before he made the Avalanche, so we can assume that he would have turned into an 85-90 point player, most likely. Personally, I have never seen Gauthier play, aside from some highlights I have found online. But I have never watched him over a prolonged period of time, like multiple games for example.
From what I have seen though, he looks like he is kind of an awkward skater. Sometimes players grow out of that, however, as they get older. Whether or not, in the end, Gauthier turns into a strong NHL player, or becomes the next Patrice Cormier, I think, is very much in the air.
It has to be concerning, however, that as a returning player for the World Juniors there is a real good shot that he doesn't make the team. That doesn't happen to good-great players. So that's a concern. Plus, his lack of production, that's also a concern. The fact that he can't crack the top PP unit for a CHL junior team as a first round pick is also a major concern. His intangibles/defensive play is going to have be off the charts moving forward if his offensive production doesn't pick up in order to be an impactful NHL player and prospect.
