Player Discussion Evan Bouchard

[McDNicks17]

Partially yes. He’s not getting shots through or making plays in the O zone. PDO isn’t 100% random luck. He has a bad PDO because he’s crapping the bed in all aspects of hockey right now.

That would make sense if the Oilers weren't generating scoring chances and high danger scoring chances at the highest rate with him on the ice.

 

[badi]

At this point give him the PP1 quaterback job with the big boys
I would think it will improve his confidence and game....

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

At this point give him the PP1 quaterback job with the big boys
I would think it will improve his confidence and game....

Hellll no. Why do we love rewarding garbage ass play here?

 

[Soundwave]

Hellll no. Why do we love rewarding garbage ass play here?

I mean Barrie should be benched after that last game though, lol.

 

[Reasonable Oil Fan]

We tend to rush our prospects

 

[harpoon]

Petry got crucified on this board because he would play a good game, but have one really visible error. That’s Bouchard right now. People either ignoring or not even noticing all the good subtle things he does to drive possession and just focusing on the brain farts.

Bouchard is not a Petry level player. Petry was noticeable on the ice for the way he moved the puck. Bouchard is noticeable because you are always asking yourself, ‘who’s that guy standing there doing nothing’?

 

[Soundwave]

Bouchard is not a Petry level player. Petry was noticeable on the ice for the way he moved the puck. Bouchard is noticeable because you are always asking yourself, ‘who’s that guy standing there doing nothing’?

Bouchard is more Justin Schultz ... very similar demeanor and approach to the game. But I think he has higher end offensive talent, probably can be a 40-60 point player here one day, just don't expect all that much good from the defensive end. He just doesn't have the defensive I.Q. or motor for that.

I think Petry is probably more akin to Nurse, except Nurse is a bit better.

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

I mean Barrie should be benched after that last game though, lol.

True but he has been better than Bouchard by a mile this season.

Bouchard has sucked since game 1.

 

[harpoon]

Bouchard is more Justin Schultz ... very similar demeanor and approach to the game. But I think he has higher end offensive talent, probably can be a 40-60 point player here, just don't expect all that much good from the defensive end. He just doesn't have the defensive I.Q. or motor for that.

I won’t pigeonhole Bouchard yet. It’s still too early in his career. He could improve a lot. What has always bothered me about this player is the way he just doesn’t see the plays developing around him, resulting in a failure to take any preventative measures until it’s too late. It’s an every game thing with Bouchard. I don’t notice any improvement in that regard over last season either. But last season he put up points so everyone wanted to put him in positions he wasn’t qualified for, and trade guys we can’t afford to lose to clear up ice time for him. It’s not being mean to say that Bouchard can’t even handle the minutes and responsibilities currently being asked of him.

 

[Leonardlizard]

We've lost ozone possession so many times with his shots lately. Has lead to goals against and yesterday he even scored a Hyman-esque goal on us. There was the last minutes of the game issue against the capitals where he took a penalty and killed any hope of comeback....
..trying to think of the good... Sometimes he looks confident skating the puck up a few paces.

 

[Drivesaitl]

People scoff at the eye test because it’s full of bias and no more reliable than anything else.

Petry got crucified on this board because he would play a good game, but have one really visible error. That’s Bouchard right now. People either ignoring or not even noticing all the good subtle things he does to drive possession and just focusing on the brain farts.

"One really visible error" He damn well scored in his own net showing blade and tipping puck perfectly home as if it was opposition net. What was he even thinking there.

Watch Bouchard on the last Islanders goal as the Islanders just know they can throw the puck around his side at will until they score. Bouchard just waving his stick around standing straight up looking confused. Unfortunately we see these plays every game.

Was a 3 goal game last night. Bouchard scored one and was fault for another.

Bouchard can't defend. He doesn't cover, doesn't clear, isn't physical, and he as well be holding a sign saying "enter goal area at will, happy hunting"


Nemo conversely not a top 4 D but what a breath of fresh water seeing a D actually step up to somebody, take them off the puck, and retrieve the puck. People throw shade on that guy all day any day but he plays the physical nature of the position.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

"One really visible error" He damn well scored in his own net showing blade and tipping puck perfectly home as if it was opposition net.

Watch Bouchard on the last Islanders goal as the Islanders just know they can throw the puck around his side at will until they score. Bouchard just waving his stick around standing straight up looking confused. Unfortunately we see these plays every game.

Bouchard can't defend. He doesn't cover, doesn't clear, isn't physical, and he as well be holding a sign saying "enter goal area at will, happy hunting"


Nemo conversely not a top 4 D but what a breath of fresh water seeing a D actually step up to somebody, take them off the puck, and retrieve the puck. People throw shade on that guy all day any day but he plays the physical nature of the position.

Nemo is the JFJ of defensemen. He hits but can't do anything else.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Nemo is the JFJ of defensemen. He hits but can't do anything else.

i hear this kind of comment all the time from people not even watching the games. He had 5 rush stops just last night in his usual limited minutes. It doesn't have to be pretty. He's dispossessing opponents from puck or just taking them out or standing guys up and letting puck either go to goalie or clearing it.

Plus I don't really know what it means when people say a D doesn't do anything else. I want a D be able to defend, thats what I want.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

i hear this kind of comment all the time from people not even watching the games. He had 5 rush stops just last night in his usual limited minutes. It doesn't have to be pretty. He's dispossessing opponents from puck or just taking them out or standing guys up and letting puck either go to goalie or clearing it.

Plus I don't really know what it means when people say a D doesn't do anything else. I want a D be able to defend, thats what I want.

Defensemen are usually responsible for the breakout pass that sends the team in the opposite direction. He can't do that. When you can't do that you spend more time in your own end. There's also that whole offense thing which seemingly nobody on the back end can do currently, least of all him.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

"One really visible error" He damn well scored in his own net showing blade and tipping puck perfectly home as if it was opposition net. What was he even thinking there.

Watch Bouchard on the last Islanders goal as the Islanders just know they can throw the puck around his side at will until they score. Bouchard just waving his stick around standing straight up looking confused. Unfortunately we see these plays every game.

Was a 3 goal game last night. Bouchard scored one and was fault for another.

Bouchard can't defend. He doesn't cover, doesn't clear, isn't physical, and he as well be holding a sign saying "enter goal area at will, happy hunting"


Nemo conversely not a top 4 D but what a breath of fresh water seeing a D actually step up to somebody, take them off the puck, and retrieve the puck. People throw shade on that guy all day any day but he plays the physical nature of the position.

And the other GA was a shorty because Barrie didn't do his job after coughing the puck up. This team has room for 1 of these types of players. I'm sticking with Bouchard due to his age. Time to move Barrie and get a legit 2nd pairing LD to help cover Bouchard's f ups.

 

[Drivesaitl]

Defensemen are usually responsible for the breakout pass that sends the team in the opposite direction. He can't do that. When you can't do that you spend more time in your own end. There's also that whole offense thing which seemingly nobody on the back end can do currently, least of all him.

This isn't a team that should be looking heavily for perfect breakout passes. We don't have those D to do that. Hence none of our D are particularly adept at it. Short passing out and puck support is what saves this team and its pretty ordinary D.

Expecting more from D on the team here is a good way to failure. Simplify to their limited toolsets is better. I'll take more exits and don't care much what they look like.

 

[Drivesaitl]

And the other GA was a shorty because Barrie didn't do his job after coughing the puck up. This team has room for 1 of these types of players. I'm sticking with Bouchard due to his age. Time to move Barrie and get a legit 2nd pairing LD to help cover Bouchard's f ups.

Who could cover for Bouchard right now. We haven't found any D in the lineup that can do it. One of them is paid over 9M annually. How we gonna just add a D of sufficient quality that they can cover for Bouchard.

Plus it isn't possible. Opponents have scouted the Oilers and just work to Bouchards side because thats where the gravy is. Any D has to cheat off their own position just to try to save Bouchard.

Theres a degree that you can shelter D that are struggling, but when a D has folded up his tent in own zone to be a pylon disaster what can you do. I encourage anybody to watch the 2nd and 3rd goals 10X and then throw up... But actually we all have and we've seen the Bouchard staring at plays thing constantly in own zone.

When a D is struggling this bad you have to park him and get him looking at films, looking at games from the stands. But trouble is we're so cap strung we can't even do that. What the Oilers are doing with Bouchard is how you wreck a D prospect. Its the equivalent of throwing a kid out off a dock to get him to learn to swim. We've all seen the movie before.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

i hear this kind of comment all the time from people not even watching the games. He had 5 rush stops just last night in his usual limited minutes. It doesn't have to be pretty. He's dispossessing opponents from puck or just taking them out or standing guys up and letting puck either go to goalie or clearing it.

Plus I don't really know what it means when people say a D doesn't do anything else. I want a D be able to defend, thats what I want.

I like Niemelainen, I just wonder where he has a fit here? We locked up Kulak to be our 2LD and he isn't capable of that. At some point we will need a 2LD (the sooner the better) which relegates Kulak to the 3rd pairing. I don't see 2nd pairing upside withe Niemelainen and I see him as a more physical Kulak when he hits his prime. Broberg doesn't appear to be in any rush to take the 2LD spot so we have 2 solid young guys that could be good in 3rd pairing roles and a guy that is locked in for 3 more seasons after this one that can play that role now. IMO the smart play right now is to trade Broberg for a guy that can fill the 2LD spot now and let the other team wait on him getting there because we can't afford to wait. Then have Niemelainen as our 7D and have Kesselring push to replace Barrie if he keeps up his play in Bako.

 

[TKB21]

Prior to Woodcroft I wouldn't trade a ham sandwich for Barrie.

His gap control was more like air craft traffic control. Aka a jumbo jet could easily fly through his "gap" control.

Anyone who thinks Barrie, through the bulk of his career, is a clear cut net positive to his teams because he can put up points... Just doesn't know hockey.

Barrie was run off two teams in his career because his defensive game is so bad even a troglodyte can see he was a net negative. Despite racking up points like a kids racks up Candy at Halloween.

A "premium" offensive defenseman doesn't sign for 4.5 mill multi year deal in today's NHL. That in itself should quash any talk of him being a premium player. Neither he or his agent believe he is worth more than Adam Larsson just as a quick comparable.

Now since Woodcroft I have Barrie better than Bouchard but it's not clear cut in any way shape or form. Last year if Bouchard got PP time we would all be saying "Barrie who?". Even this year it's impossible to predict that Barrie would be better than Bouchard if their PP roles were reversed. That's a huge massive advantage that you are strangely glossing over to proclaim easy minutes for Bouchard.

Last year, with little to no imagination, it's easy to project Bouchard as the better of the two if you reversed their PP roles. And Bouchard's defense, while not good either, was also easy to project being better than Barrie. Because outside of a couple years Barrie is abysmal defensively.

This board has always had a few posters that have just been huge Barrie fanboys. Unable or unwilling to see that through most his career Barrie just isn't that good. Now with Bouchard, practically a rookie, struggling it appears like some are trying you put a strange spin on this situation.

Bouchard was a legit high ranked special prospect when we drafted him. That fell to us in what appeared to be pure luck due to other teams desperatelyneeding centers. He was brought up very slowly despite showing strong even as an 18 year old at the nhl level. Last year he was great for us. This year 20 games into basically his second season he is struggling.

No biggie.

Bouchards biggest knock even in junior was his actual Defensive game and lack of give a shit attitude. Last year he at least brought the offence, this year he is bringing absolutely nothing to the team.

 

[Soundwave]

Bouchards biggest knock even in junior was his actual Defensive game and lack of give a shit attitude. Last year he at least brought the offence, this year he is bringing absolutely nothing to the team.

Yeah like I remember this being the knock on him even in his draft year. Dude is a pure offensive D with emphasis on the word offensive. He's likely never going to be a good defender, he never has been at any level.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Who could cover for Bouchard right now. We haven't found any D in the lineup that can do it. One of them is paid over 9M annually. How we gonna just add a D of sufficient quality that they can cover for Bouchard.

Plus it isn't possible. Opponents have scouted the Oilers and just work to Bouchards side because thats where the gravy is. Any D has to cheat off their own position just to try to save Bouchard.

Theres a degree that you can shelter D that are struggling, but when a D has folded up his tent in own zone to be a pylon disaster what can you do. I encourage anybody to watch the 2nd and 3rd goals 10X and then throw up... But actually we all have and we've seen the Bouchard staring at plays thing constantly in own zone.

When a D is struggling this bad you have to park him and get him looking at films, looking at games from the stands. But trouble is we're so cap strung we can't even do that. What the Oilers are doing with Bouchard is how you wreck a D prospect. Its the equivalent of throwing a kid out off a dock to get him to learn to swim. We've all seen the movie before.

That $9 million d-man is playing like anything but an elite d-man. He would rather try and play like Bouch and Barrie than actually shut down the other team's top players.

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

That $9 million d-man is playing like anything but an elite d-man. He would rather try and play like Bouch and Barrie than actually shut down the other team's top players.

Man if only there was some way we could've seen his regression from his career year playing a bunch of afterthoughts coming....

 

[Drivesaitl]

That $9 million d-man is playing like anything but an elite d-man. He would rather try and play like Bouch and Barrie than actually shut down the other team's top players.

My point stands. When you've rotated every D pair you have just to try to shelter Bouchard in own zone, and none of it has worked over multiple years the problem displays itself to be pretty immense and not something where we can just airlift a quality of D in here to get her done.

I only hope the Org hasn't wrecked Bouchard already. Defensively its looking like that. I see a player absolutely lost and drowning in own end. Bouchard is overwhelmed. Gets in your head shellshock does. He's hearing incoming and bombs going off. He's got the 200yard stare.

 

[Soundwave]

My point stands. When you've rotated every D pair you have just to try to shelter Bouchard in own zone, and none of it has worked over multiple years the problem displays itself to be pretty immense and not something where we can just airlift a quality of D in here to get her done.

I only hope the Org hasn't wrecked Bouchard already. Defensively its looking like that. I see a player absolutely lost and drowning in own end. Bouchard is overwhelmed. Gets in your head shellshock does. He's hearing incoming and bombs going off. He's got the 200yard stare.

He's never going to be a good defensive player, think people just need to accept that. Like since when was that even in his scouting report in his draft year?

 

[Drivesaitl]

He's never going to be a good defensive player, think people just need to accept that. Like since when was that even in his scouting report in his draft year?

Understood. One just hoped though after years of pro play he might start to pick up on some aspects of his position. heh