Evan Bouchard vs Noah Dobson--who would have been your pick

[La Bamba]

Confession: I wanted Dobson at the time only because he was ranked higher on Bob McKenzie's list. I never knew of Noah Dobson's existence until the Oilers were picking lol.

I'm happy with the Bouchard pick. He seems to have everything the Oilers desperate need in a D man. Also OHL players > QMJHL players IMO.

 

[FanOfSadTeam]

The oilers went against my superior knowledge of prospects but I'll let it slide this time.

LOL who the f*** knows what their future holds. When it comes to guessing which will be better, you might as well flip a coin.

Also, I trust the scouts to have more knowledge than a fan (unless it's a fan who watches all their games) just like Chia does. He even admits that you can't know everything about even the top 30 so you have to rely on the scouts. And then you get people hear talking out of their ass so confidently.

 

[Stoneman89]

I would have picked Dobson every time, but since Bouchard is now an Oiler, I have the blue and orange glasses on, and will say he will be miles better than Dobson.

 

[dss97]

I was leaning Dobson, but it was really close and Bouchard may be the better fit for this team anyway, so it's tough to complain.

 

[onetweasy]

Dobson. The league as all about speed and skating now. Bouchard seems good at everything, and great at nothing. Seems like he's a "safe pick" (as safe as a dman ever is I suppose), and he'll carve out a NHL career of some sort in all likelihood, but Dobson seemed like more of a home run pick. I don't think it was a slam-dunk one way or the other though, so lets hope our guy ends up being the better pick.

How does “great at nothing” score 92 points in 71 games? I am just curious?

Bomb from the point......great passer......

24 hours ago I would have ate a hat to grab Bouchard at 10.

 

[Apathetic]

I was also leaning Dobson because he had such a good memorial cup and his skating. That being said the more I have thought about it, I am glad we went Bouchard, he has all the tools we need.

 

[suddeninterest]

I actually don't think Dobson has the higher ceiling, as I believe Bouchard has offensive skills especially on the pp and overall in the offensive zone that frankly Dobson will never have. I believe the Oilers think this too and Chia alluded to that yesterday when he talked about picking Bouchard.

I guess another way of looking at it would be that the players have different comparables should each hit their respective top ends. It would be like asking if you wanted Carlson or Letang vs Pietrangelo or Suter imo. I think Bouchard has the ceiling of a 1D in the mold of a 50-60+ point guy who leaves a bit to be desired defensively, where Dobson is more of a 40-50 point solid all-around style 1D. If that makes sense.

I will say that Dobson has the overall higher floor in terms of play as good all around #3 where I think Bouchard's floor is a #4 pp specialist.

 

[5 Mins 4 Ftg]

Well neither one is small.

No but Bouchard is the bigger and more physically mature of the 2 was my poorly made point

 

[Satire]

Picked Dobson. Bouchard is a medium risk very high reward. Dobson is a low risk high reward.

Bouchard has potential to be better then Dobson though. Hoping he can prove me wrong. He's an amazing prospect either way.

 

[PinSeeker]

One of Chia's comments on his compete/speed is that when he plays 35+ mins a night, he is inevitably going to get worn down and show those things. He played an insane amount.

 

[Joey Moss]

To be honest Dobson, Wahlstrom, Bouchard was my preference in order but they're all so close.

 

[Aerrol]

Bouchard for sure. We don't need blazing speed back there or a stabllilizer, we need someone who can thread a puck through traffic to streaking McJeshs and be a threat from the blue line for him to pass back to. Bouchard is better than Dobson at all those things. Plus I think his skating will improve similar to drai. Hope Drai has some tips for him, very similar skating style in their draft years.

 

[jukon]

I legit know very little about the kids these days. If you had to compare Bouchard to a recent prospect in terms of how you think he'll turn out, who would it be?

 

[Tyrolean]

No idea. Hope it works out for the Oilers. Drafting is a crap shoot at times but Bouchard is definitely one of the better d-men in the draft.

 

[blue_n_copper]

I would have chosen Bouchard. Like everyone I was amazed both were available at 10. Last night I read the Bouchard thread on the main board that began two years ago. It doesn't seem that many people questioned his skating, an alleged lack of intensity or his defensive play until after the Knights traded away half the team and he started playing 30 minutes a night. Before that it seemed liked everyone complimented his defensive ability although not many saw him as a top ten pick before that either

 

[Canovin]

Dobson simply because Addison was there at #40.

Bouchard is an Oiler so I'll be cheering him on

 

[Shizuka]

I was clearly on the Wahlstrom bandwagon, but I also thought both Bouchard and Dobson would be long gone by the time our number was up. While Dobson's Memorial Cup run looked fantastic and his mobility is better, in the end Bouchard ticks every single box we desperately needed. Minute muncher, RH, howitzer shot, tremendous vision and passing, and captained a young London squad that traded away quite a few vets. Pretty thrilled to have the kid now.

 

[Delicious Pancakes]

Dobson would have been my pick here. He's the better skater and projects to be the more complete player though he'll likely take a little longer to get there as he needs to grow into his frame wheras Bouchard is physically ready for the NHL now. Dobson's a better defender, has a solid and accurate point shot, is good on PP and PK, good passing and vision. Bouchard is better in some areas now but part of making a good pick is projecting into the future and I want the player who will have best long term impact and I see that as being Dobson.

 

[Hockey Nightmare]

Wahlstrom is college-bound and that would've made me wary of drafting him. Too many teams have been burned by these guys. Wouldn't take that chance with a high pick. I'm glad they went with a D.

 

[McBaevid]

Wanted Bouchard simply because the Oilers haven't had a proper Offensive Dman in ages (since Souray/Lubo), I don't have full faith in Dobson reaching his potential as a top pair guy here as the Oiler's history of developing Dmen is absolutely putrid.

 

[jukon]

Bouchard is the perfect fit for you guys. Even if he skates like he's in quicksand (ps: he doesn't), McDavid and his PP generating ability will magically transport Bouchard directly into the offensive zone. Your power play sucked, and Dobson wasn't going to solve that. Bouchard will. I'm really happy for you guys!

McDavid generates power plays?? Not nearly as much as he should. Anyway. If you take size out of the equation, is Bouchard still your pick at 10?

 

[MinimaMoralia]

I legit know very little about the kids these days. If you had to compare Bouchard to a recent prospect in terms of how you think he'll turn out, who would it be?[/QUOTE

Ed Jovanovski is my first conparacom.

 

[Perfect_Drug]

I picked Bouchard because the Q is a pretty garbage league.

I mean lets be honest here. The best 2 Dmen from the Q the past decade are Demers and Ehlers (unless I missed someone).

I mean my quick skim through, i didn't see much in the way of elite Dmen being groomed there.


Can someone maybe provide me with evidence I'm wrong?

 

[Alberta]

I get nervous when I look at Q defencemen. Particularly Q defencemen that fall a little in their draft year. I think about Brandon Gormley.

 

[Mr Positive]

I'm not being a homer when I say Bouchard. I do not know a ton about either, but I know that our defense is inept in the offensive zone, and it is Chia's biggest failure. Bouchard is just a prospect, but even if it is a future focus, I still go with the more talented offensive threat. Our D is plenty mobile already. Dobson sounds great, but it sounds like we already have guys like him.

 

[Apathetic]

I picked Bouchard because the Q is a pretty garbage league.

I mean lets be honest here. The best 2 Dmen from the Q the past decade are Demers and Ehlers (unless I missed someone).

I mean my quick skim through, i didn't see much in the way of elite Dmen being groomed there.


Can someone maybe provide me with evidence I'm wrong?

Doing a cursory search going back to 2005 (since the Q actually produced some top pairing guys that year):

2016: Sam Girard
2015: Chabot
2011: Nathan Beaulieu and Xavier Ouellet
2009 was a good year, Kulikov, David Savard, Eric Gelinas also had Despres who if it wasn't for injuries would probably still be an NHLer.
2008: Marco Scandella, Jason Demers
2006: Matt Carle
2005: M-E Vlassic, Kris Letang

Conclusion: Pretty fair comment. The Q doesn't have the best track record for dmen. That being said I don't think the Q has seen a d prospect as good as Dobson in a long time. In his draft eligible season he looks a lot better than Chabot who definitely will be an NHLer for a long time. Chabot took serious steps in each of his next two season in the Q though.

 

[MinimaMoralia]

Was leaning towards Dobby as somehow I thought he was more polished and I thought we could make a plethora of Harry Potter references with his nickname, but more than thrilled to get Boogerman. Exactly what we needed. Bigger Ellis.

 

[plikestechno]

We have a few Dmen already that skate fast but don't do much. We don't seem to have many guys that can make an actual, confident pass when needed.

If he hits, he's everything the Oilers need. The Oilers have been locked in on Bouchard for months, apparently. For better or worse, I don't even think they were thinking Dobson or cared that he was available. Chia mentioned trying to decide Bouchard or Wahlstrom. Not Dobson.

Interesting that Chicago and the Wings both chatted with Dobson but went with other guys ultimately. I know the Wings went Zadina but why did the Hawks like Boquist better than Dobson? I think Dobson is a lock to be a reliable but skillfully unspectacular Dman, maybe with some upside but Bouchard's skills and shot could crack the Oilers team as a whole wide open.

I also have more faith in Bouchard being developed properly now that Yawney's here. Anaheim is a D factory and I'm sure Yawney played some part in that.

 

[Alberta]

Keep in mind, for all the people comparing him to Carlson, it took him a fair bit of time to find his groove in the NHL. He spent an entire season in the OHL after being drafted and then 2/3 of another in the AHL before finally getting called up.

His first full season in the NHL was good, but sheltered. He took a step back in his second year and then he finally found his way in the top four but his 12 goal, 55 point season happened in 2014-15, a full six years after he was selected.

 

[Debonair]

Sounds like the Oilers were between Walhstrom and Bouchard and had Bouchard clearly ahead of Dobson.

 

[Cypress]

Bouchard because of his superior offense. They said he was the best passer in the entire draft. Don't forget we already have Larsson for handling the defensive assignments.

 

[McShogun99]

In the absolute worst case scenario Bouchard will still be a 3rd pairing NHL defender that plays on the 1st PP unit and gets 40 points a season. I liked Dobson a lot but we picked the right player.

 

[Cloned]

Based on what I'm reading on the Internet (scouting reports, etc.):

DOBSON:
Floor - post-prime Seabrook
Ceiling - Pietrangelo

BOUCHARD:
Floor - Aucoin
Ceiling - Carlson

 

[SK13]

McDavid generates power plays?? Not nearly as much as he should. Anyway. If you take size out of the equation, is Bouchard still your pick at 10?

No NHL player has generated more powerplays in the last two seasons than Connor McDavid FYI.

He should just be getting even more calls than he does.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

I picked Bouchard because the Q is a pretty garbage league.

I mean lets be honest here. The best 2 Dmen from the Q the past decade are Demers and Ehlers (unless I missed someone).

I mean my quick skim through, i didn't see much in the way of elite Dmen being groomed there.


Can someone maybe provide me with evidence I'm wrong?

Ehlers? The one on the Jets?

You're right though, the Q has a terrible track record for developing Dmen. Demers and Scandella are the only regulars in the last decade (off the top of my head).

 

[JarvisFunk]

At the time I wanted Dobson, however reading the scouting reports more and watching film I do like the Bouchard pick. Maybe it's just the homer in me though

 

[Perfect_Drug]

Ehlers? The one on the Jets?

You know... i skim/misread the name but youre right. Not Ehlers.

 

[McFlyingV]

Dobson skating is the biggest difference in my opinion and is the only thing that I am worried about with Bouchard-can he adapt at the nhl level

but when I see the minutes Bouchard was playing last year? he is a minutes eater and we need a guy like that

Dobson's skating is a difference absolutely, but its the only thing he does better than Bouchard offensively. Dobson's defensive game is better, but I question if his offensive game is dynamic enough to becoming a 40+ point D at the NHL level. Time will tell, but I definitely see Bouchard as the better fit for our team. He runs a power play significantly better than Dobson.

 

[Fourier]

Keep in mind, for all the people comparing him to Carlson, it took him a fair bit of time to find his groove in the NHL. He spent an entire season in the OHL after being drafted and then 2/3 of another in the AHL before finally getting called up.

His first full season in the NHL was good, but sheltered. He took a step back in his second year and then he finally found his way in the top four but his 12 goal, 55 point season happened in 2014-15, a full six years after he was selected.

It's much harder to predict the path a highly drafted defenseman will take than it is for a forward. But if you look back to his draft year Carlson was not nearly as productive as Bouchard was this year. He was less than ppg playing in the USHL. His numbers were similar in his draft +1 year to Bouchard's draft season. But he had the added benefit of a much more offensively stacked team. And one big difference was the goal totals. Carlson had 16 Bouchard had 25. I may be wrong but I don't remember a junior aged Carlson having the cannon that Bouchard has.

Of course we will be thrilled if Bouchard ever has the type of year that Carlson has this year. But for me it is that shot that the team covets. The last guythey had who could hammer it like Bouchard was Souray. But Souray never had McDavid feeding him on the pp. Hopefully this shot can stretch out the defense a little and give guys like McDavid more ice to work with in the offensive zone.