Taylor Gauthier had a busy Sunday morning.
A handful of hours after driving home across Ohio after guiding the Wheeling Nailers to a 4-2 road win against the Toledo Walleye on Saturday, the goaltender settled in for Easter services in Wheeling, W.Va.
But those plans were interrupted.
He was recalled by the Pittsburgh Penguins’ roster for the first time in his career.
“At about 10:45 this morning … I had just walked into church for Easter service with a bunch of my teammates down in Wheeling,” Gauthier said. “I went to put my phone on ‘do not disturb’ and I had four missed calls from (Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza). So, I figured it was something pretty important.
“It was kind of just a rush to get home, pack a backpack and go grab my gear and hit the road. I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet. I didn’t expect the first time getting called up to the NHL to be in this scenario. I’m just so grateful to experience that. Everyone was so welcoming today. It’s been a dream come true.”
Gauthier, a fourth-year professional who has predominantly played with the Nailers at the ECHL level, was summoned abruptly by the Penguins when it was learned incumbent goaltender Stuart Skinner would be unavailable to play due to a presumed facial injury he suffered on Saturday while serving as the backup and sitting on the bench during a 9-4 home win against the Florida Panthers.
With Penguins management being unable to determine Skinner’s status as it pertained to Sunday’s game, which began at 3:08 p.m., they recalled Gauthier for one simple reason.
Geography.
With Gauthier situated approximately one hour away in Wheeling, he was given the promotion instead of one of their most prominent goaltending prospects, Sergei Murashov, who was stationed some four hours to the Northeast with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL).
“I was here at 12:30 (p.m.),” Gauthier boasted. “I was here in tons of time. I was a speed racer down the freeway today. I wanted to make sure I remembered how to get into the parking lot, get all settled in. I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers.”
As it was, Murashov eventually made it to Pittsburgh once the game began and sat in the press box as a spectator.
Should Skinner be sidelined for any significant length of time, the Penguins plan on formally recalling Murashov and assigning Gauthier back to Wheeling.
But for one day, at least, Gauthier got to be an NHL goaltender, dressing as the backup to rookie Arturs Silovs on Sunday.
“It’s the first time I’ve been in this arena with the gear on, skating around,” the 25-year-old Gauthier said. “It’s surreal. Especially with the pedigree of guys that are in this room.
“I think I speak for every Canadian kid that grew up watching (Penguins forward Sidney Crosby) play, he’s a hero to all of us. I was just trying to stay out of his way, honestly. If I could have stayed on the bench, I probably would have stayed on the bench just to make sure I wasn’t in the way. But it was unbelievable, just the amount of people that were here. It was crazy.”
The Penguins initially brought Gauthier into the organization in 2022 under former general manager Ron Hextall, signing the right-catching goaltender to a three-year entry-level contract.
Gauthier’s first three professional seasons primarily unfolded with Wheeling. During the 2023-24 campaign, he won the ECHL’s top goaltending award.
But an injury-filled 2024-25 campaign for Gauthier, coupled with the rise of more celebrated goaltending prospects such as Murashov and Joel Blomqvist, seemed to suggest Gauthier’s time with the organization would be coming to an end. And that suspicion appeared to be confirmed when the organization allowed his NHL contract to expire.
But he wound up signing a one-year AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on July 2, 2025, knowing full well his hopes of reaching the NHL with the Penguins were limited.
But his comfort with the franchise led to him remaining.
“Honestly, the people in this organization are first class,” Gauthier said. “They’ve done so much work to develop me into the goalie I am. They’ve put in so much time and effort this year and years previous. I had no reason to leave. I love everything about every city that I’ve played in. And I knew there was an opportunity. You look at the depth chart and, yeah, there’s a lot of young guys and there’s a lot of competition. I think I’ve thrived in the competition in previous years. I don’t think I had a reason to leave.
“Some people get really in the ‘I’m going to try and find something better.’ But the saying that ‘the grass isn’t always greener,’ it’s true. I don’t know what other scenario I’d put myself in if I went somewhere else. I feel very comfortable here and just to continue working and develop. And try to get back to this stop as soon as possible. This is somewhere that I want to be for a long time, sitting in a stall permanently up here. It’s just honoring the commitment they made to me and I can return the favor.”
The Penguins rewarded that loyalty. After another goaltending prospect, Filip Larsson, agreed to a mutual contract termination Feb. 3, the Penguins signed Gauthier to a one-year, two-way NHL contract for the remainder of the current season March 6.
“He’s been playing great,” coach Dan Muse said. “He’s been a top goalie in (the ECHL). And a great teammate, great member of the organization.
“That signing, he earned that. Completely earned that. Somebody we’re excited about.”
Two days before signing the contract, Gauthier became the Nailers’ career leader in goaltending wins, having posted a 70-40-9 record throughout his tenure with that club.
Then on Sunday, he finally reached the NHL.
Even if just for one day.
“All my family on Prince Edward Island, they were scrambling, trying to find a way to watch the game,” Gauthier said. “My dad, my mom, my girlfriend, my sister, everyone was glued to the TV today. They were hoping I got in. But just to see me in an NHL jersey for them is really special and it’s something that I’m really going to cherish for a long time.
“I’m going to take that jersey home and make sure I put it up in a frame, for sure.”