Flyers sign center prospect to one-year contract extension

The Philadelphia Flyers have locked in forward Jacob Gaucher for another season, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract extension for the 2026-27 campaign. The deal carries an NHL cap hit of $850,000 and includes $280,000 in guaranteed money, with Gaucher earning a $250,000 salary while playing in the American Hockey League, according to PuckPedia.

Gaucher, 25, was set to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer. The Longueuil, Quebec native spent most of the 2025-26 season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he produced an AHL career-best 20 goals and 36 points while adding 16 assists in 69 games. His 20 goals ranked second on the team, while his 36 points placed fourth among Phantoms skaters. He also recorded 44 penalty minutes during the season.

The 6-foot-3 right-shot center appeared in four NHL games with Philadelphia during the 2025-26 season. Across eight career NHL appearances over the last two years, Gaucher has compiled seven shots, seven hits, four blocked shots, and no points.

An undrafted player, Gaucher worked his way into the organization through strong performances at multiple levels. After completing his junior career in the QMJHL, where he played 242 games and collected 65 goals and 141 points with Val-d’Or and Baie-Comeau, he captained Baie-Comeau during the 2021-22 season and served as an alternate captain in Val-d’Or for two years. His final junior season was his best, as he finished with 35 goals and 68 points in 66 games.

Gaucher began his professional career with the Reading Royals in the ECHL during the 2022-23 season, accumulating 22 goals, 39 assists, and 61 points in 71 games while finishing with a plus-22 rating. That performance earned him a promotion to Lehigh Valley, where he established himself as a reliable contributor. Through 198 career AHL games, Gaucher has garnered 48 goals, 42 assists, and 90 points, along with 109 penalty minutes. He has also added eight points in 13 Calder Cup Playoff games.

Philadelphia originally signed Gaucher to a two-year entry-level contract in December 2024. By extending him for another season, the Flyers retain one of Lehigh Valley’s most dangerous offensive threats after back-to-back 20-goal campaigns.