Looking for a fresh start, Gauthier returned to the state of Colorado and signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Eagles of the ECHL on July 8, 2012. To start the 2012–13 season, he appeared in only 3 games with the Eagles before he was mutually released. After earlier considering to play minor hockey in Colorado with the inaugural Denver Cutthroats of the Central Hockey League (CHL), Gauthier was signed and reunited with former Kings teammate and Cutthroats head coach Derek Armstrong on October 30, 2012.
