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BRANDON, Fla. — As he was preparing for the first day on ice at Tampa Bay Lightning development camp in July, forward Ethan Gauthier got to watch a few minutes of an informal workout of NHL players, including Lightning forwards Nikita Kucherov and Nicholas Paul.

The 19-year-old wanted to fully absorb this learning experience.

“Just absorbing it all,” Gauthier, who was picked by Tampa Bay in the second round (No. 37) of the 2023 NHL Draft, said. “That’s my goal. I aspire to be where they are in a few years.”

Observing players like Kucherov, who headed the League in scoring but is still diligently working in July, intensely focusing on minor details, is inspiring. This is the true essence of professionalism. It stimulates my enthusiasm and prepares me to put in the work.

Gauthier still has a minimum of one more year before he becomes a professional. He had a successful last season with Drummondville, which was his third in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. He led the team with 71 points (36 goals, 35 assists) in 64 games and also had 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists) in 19 playoff games. His performance contributed significantly to Drummondville’s triumph in the QMJHL championship.

This season, he plans to return to Drummondville with the hope of building upon his personal and team achievements from the 2023-24 season.

“I experienced a great year, feeling faster, stronger, and overall, improving as a player,” expressed Gauthier. “That was enjoyable. The highlight was the impressive playoff run and the high-stakes situations that necessitated top-notch performance from all of us to secure a win.”

Gauthier’s game is based on his skill and ability around the net. However, standing at 5-foot-11 and weighing 185 pounds, he recognizes the importance of grit for success at higher levels. J.P. Cote, Lightning’s director of player development, emphasized the significance of exposing Gauthier and other repeat development camp attendees to new challenges.

“Cote stated, “After undergoing fitness tests and drills, our aim is to equip them with new skills that they can apply back in their junior leagues. This is our approach every time we interact with them… All these little improvements accumulate, enhancing their prowess as players. Every small enhancement contributes to making them 1%, 2%, 3%, even 50% better than they were at the start. That’s our ultimate goal.”

Gauthier is looking for that additional advantage — the extra percentile that can set him apart from the rest.

“Here, you acquire a great deal of knowledge,” Gauthier stated. “I’ve grown significantly, both personally and professionally, compared to where I was a year ago. It’s crucial for me now to keep improving and keep working towards becoming the player I aspire to be.”