Hmm. I picked Yams over Bouchard. Surprised to see so many pick Bouchard.
In terms of top prospect, how are you interpreting that? Highest ceiling? Highest floor? Best overall?
Why is it surprising? Bouchard is quite easily the better prospect, he's a top 5 level prospect with elite offensive skills.
I like Yamamoto but I'm sensing that he's becoming overrated, people expecting him to be an impact NHLer soon. I'd be quite happy if he tops out as a Brendan Gallagher level player, he doesn't have the elite level puck skills and skating but to be much more than that IMO.
For a little guy, he doesn't score a lot with skill but moreso on will and cleaning up garbage near the net so I don't think he'll ever be a line driver in the NHL, more of a solid support player on a high skilled line.
Interestingly enough, I don't see much bust factor with Yamamoto because he plays such a sound 2 way game which is weird to say about such a little guy but I don't see much boom either.
Bouchard has the potential to be a 50+ point Dman, much higher ceiling than Yamamoto IMO. He has elite level skills that Yamamoto just doesn't possess.