RW Tyler Boucher - Belleville Senators, AHL (2021, 10th, OTT)

[Breakers]

In the games I saw in the NCAA he wasnt flashing skill
his game was too focused on being a heat seeking missile and was reckless as hell
------------
For instance
He was playing playing the huskies around december I believe. I was watching for Mcdonaugh
he gets in on the forecheck and has a borderline charging penalty against Montreal's prospect Harris, reminded me of the Steve downie hit kind of masking oneself and his sole purpose was lighting him up after he came from behind the net, no penalty called
anyways........
shift continues the puck leaves the zone, and they come back in the on the rush, they miss the net I believe, and The huskie defenceman has the puck on the half wall and is engaged and being rubbed out on the boards by a BU player and the puck goes to the BU defense.
Instead of going to the front of the net as they have possession Boucher goes from the middle of the ice and decides to go nuclear option on a guy who is already checked. Gets a penalty.
he did this the next shift as well, read warned him.
Hockey east suspended him and cited an emerging pattern from past weekends and he wasnt getting it.

North Mishie, He had a flying elbow the weekend before Northeastern, GETS A PENALTY, and got benched, the next game he essentially does a Milan Lucic on Ryan Miller and GETS ANOTHER PENALTY and is benched.


Ottawa's captain Tkachuk who I watched a ton was great between the whistles in picking hits, and being a pest with mixing in skill. Vegas's prospect Brisson, same thing nice mix of skill and physicality with some nice pest work.

Boucher doesnt understand the flow of the game, maybe he understands it a bit more in junior but I can't speak to that. Scoring in the OHL is not exactly difficult.

Too reckless for me and an NHL coach would take him out of the lineup ASAP with the dumb penalties he takes
guy finished 2nd in penalty minutes on BU I believe. HE PLAYED 17 GAMES

 

[99ovr]

After some limited viewings of him in the OHL, Boucher is very, very raw but the skill is definitely there.

He has a rocket of a shot, decent hands (not elite but enough finesse to make hard plays) and good awareness. In my opinion he's too skilled, smart and competitive to not be an impact player at the next level.

His OHL production obviously leaves a lot to be deserved but he has barely played in the last 2 years and is the kind of player that will need some time to put it all together.

In his prime I can see him as a 40-50 point guy who can play anywhere in the line up that is an immense physical threat every time he's on the ice. Maybe not 10OA calibre but the 2021 draft was more of a crap shoot than other years and Wilson was drafted in 16OA in 2012 so it is what it is.

 

[newfy]

After some limited viewings of him in the OHL, Boucher is very, very raw but the skill is definitely there.

He has a rocket of a shot, decent hands (not elite but enough finesse to make hard plays) and good awareness. In my opinion he's too skilled, smart and competitive to not be an impact player at the next level.

His OHL production obviously leaves a lot to be deserved but he has barely played in the last 2 years and is the kind of player that will need some time to put it all together.

In his prime I can see him as a 40-50 point guy who can play anywhere in the line up that is an immense physical threat every time he's on the ice. Maybe not 10OA calibre but the 2021 draft was more of a crap shoot than other years and Wilson was drafted in 16OA in 2012 so it is what it is.

Hes barely on pace for 40 points in the OHL as a draft+1, top 10 pick. That would be the biggest turnaround in draft history for a prospect to get to that level

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Hes barely on pace for 40 points in the OHL as a draft+1, top 10 pick. That would be the biggest turnaround in draft history for a prospect to get to that level

Brady Tkachuk scored 8 goals in the NCAA and then scored 20+ the next year. What's the commonality? People who didn't watch him clung to his stats to put a hard limit on his ceiling.

Boucher's stats are disappointing. His play, often, has been disappointing. When he's on, though, he flashes very obvious tools. That leads me to believe that people who cant see that either a) have not watched much of him at all or b) can't evaluate players.

I don't see him as a 50pt player, but if he has a good developmental year next year and keeps adding elements to his game, he can absolutely be a 30-40 pt guy. His physical tools, skating, and shot are all near NHL caliber and will all improve.

 

[HSF]

Brady Tkachuk scored 8 goals in the NCAA and then scored 20+ the next year. What's the commonality? People who didn't watch him clung to his stats to put a hard limit on his ceiling.

Boucher's stats are disappointing. His play, often, has been disappointing. When he's on, though, he flashes very obvious tools. That leads me to believe that people who cant see that either a) have not watched much of him at all or b) can't evaluate players.

I don't see him as a 50pt player, but if he has a good developmental year next year and keeps adding elements to his game, he can absolutely be a 30-40 pt guy. His physical tools, skating, and shot are all near NHL caliber and will all improve.

its foolish to compare Brady to Boucher. Brady was unanimously a top 5 pick by almost all scouting organizations before the draft. Boucher wasn't. It is pretty clear why because Brady would have ate the OHL in his D+1 year

 

[newfy]

Brady Tkachuk scored 8 goals in the NCAA and then scored 20+ the next year. What's the commonality? People who didn't watch him clung to his stats to put a hard limit on his ceiling.

Boucher's stats are disappointing. His play, often, has been disappointing. When he's on, though, he flashes very obvious tools. That leads me to believe that people who cant see that either a) have not watched much of him at all or b) can't evaluate players.

I don't see him as a 50pt player, but if he has a good developmental year next year and keeps adding elements to his game, he can absolutely be a 30-40 pt guy. His physical tools, skating, and shot are all near NHL caliber and will all improve.

Brady had really good production for his age in the NCAA where you could clearly tell he had offensive chops, and was a consensus top 6 pick in his draft. Boucher was a consensus borderline first rounder or second rounder, who at the age Brady had 20 goals, is now on pace for almost 40 points in the OHL. Its the difference between stat watching and actually watching them play, Tkachuk in his draft year was close to leading his entire NCAA team in points, a team which had some very legit, older NHL prospects

Its not a comparable situation at all. If youre that big, strong, fast and good of a shot but cant put up a 45 point pace in the OHL, what does it say about your ability to think the game and hockey sense? Hockey sense is the biggest separator from physical talents and actual NHL calibre hockey players, something Boucher hasnt shown a lot of

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

its foolish to compare Brady to Boucher. Brady was unanimously a top 5 pick by almost all scouting organizations before the draft. Boucher wasn't. It is pretty clear why because Brady would have ate the OHL in his D+1 year

Really not the point. The point is that stats without context and without viewings lead you to make terrible evaluations.

Brady had really good production for his age in the NCAA where you could clearly tell he had offensive chops, and was a consensus top 6 pick in his draft. Boucher was a consensus borderline first rounder or second rounder, who at the age Brady had 20 goals, is now on pace for almost 40 points in the OHL. Its the difference between stat watching and actually watching them play, Tkachuk in his draft year was close to leading his entire NCAA team in points, a team which had some very legit, older NHL prospects

Its not a comparable situation at all. If youre that big, strong, fast and good of a shot but cant put up a 45 point pace in the OHL, what does it say about your ability to think the game and hockey sense? Hockey sense is the biggest separator from physical talents and actual NHL calibre hockey players, something Boucher hasnt shown a lot of

If you have the physical tools, you don't really need high end hockey sense. Also, Boucher's hockey sense is definitely not an issue. He clearly thinks the game at a higher level than most of his teammates and has very good positioning.

I am not comparing Brady to Boucher. I am comparing stat-watching to stat-watching. Watching Boucher, the NHL tools are easy to see. I do not think he will be a top 6er, but I am pretty confident he will be a physical force at least and, if all goes well, a guy who can move around the lineup and score goals from around the lineup.

 

[wetcoast]

Really not the point. The point is that stats without context and without viewings lead you to make terrible evaluations.

If you have the physical tools, you don't really need high end hockey sense. Also, Boucher's hockey sense is definitely not an issue. He clearly thinks the game at a higher level than most of his teammates and has very good positioning.

I am not comparing Brady to Boucher. I am comparing stat-watching to stat-watching. Watching Boucher, the NHL tools are easy to see. I do not think he will be a top 6er, but I am pretty confident he will be a physical force at least and, if all goes well, a guy who can move around the lineup and score goals from around the lineup.

Heck he isn't even really a top 6er in the OHL in his D+! year, he is a huge project at this point and was a massive reach at #10 in the 21 draft something the Sens will regret no doubt.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Heck he isn't even really a top 6er in the OHL in his D+! year, he is a huge project at this point and was a massive reach at #10 in the 21 draft something the Sens will regret no doubt.

How are you measuring that he’s not top six in the OHL? Doesn’t seem to make any sense, even by stat-watching.

 

[wetcoast]

How are you measuring that he’s not top six in the OHL? Doesn’t seem to make any sense, even by stat-watching.

That's the thing he is a borderline top 6 guy in the OHL and was more than likely given those MPG due to his draft position and physical maturity.

It's not unreasonable to expect more from a top 10 pick in a decent draft one would think.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

That's the thing he is a borderline top 6 guy in the OHL and was more than likely given those MPG due to his draft position and physical maturity.

How is he a borderline top six player in the OHL? You still haven’t explained that.

Seems like the type of piling on you are seeing a lot of in this thread for the sake of it.

 

[wetcoast]

How is he a borderline top six player in the OHL? You still haven’t explained that.

Seems like the type of piling on you are seeing a lot of in this thread for the sake of it.

You're right he is the player other teams are game planning ofr...well not really.

I explained why I think he is a borderline top 6 OHL player but fine, let's say he is a legit top 6 OHL guy he is further away than most in becoming a top 6 NHL guy, he will be a bottom 6 guy as his hockey sense and offesnive skillset isn't there.

Of course I thought the same of Milan Lucic who I saw play live alot in Vancouver but he is the exception.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Heck he isn't even really a top 6er in the OHL in his D+! year, he is a huge project at this point and was a massive reach at #10 in the 21 draft something the Sens will regret no doubt.

Tell me where anyone said otherwise...?

 

[belair]

Watching him in the Battalion series, his skating really sets him apart from the average prospect. Has a good release on his shot and he's a gritty player, a tough opponent.

The main concern I have is how he doesn't really stand out offensively in a league where he should be. Lacks creativity and has a difficult time finding separation. The Battalion negated the majority of what he brought.

In limited viewings, I see his absolute upside being a middle six forward. I didn't see another gear there.

 

[Senator Stanley]

Really not the point. The point is that stats without context and without viewings lead you to make terrible evaluations.

If you have the physical tools, you don't really need high end hockey sense. Also, Boucher's hockey sense is definitely not an issue. He clearly thinks the game at a higher level than most of his teammates and has very good positioning.

I am not comparing Brady to Boucher. I am comparing stat-watching to stat-watching. Watching Boucher, the NHL tools are easy to see. I do not think he will be a top 6er, but I am pretty confident he will be a physical force at least and, if all goes well, a guy who can move around the lineup and score goals from around the lineup.

From several OHL viewings, I don't think we can rule out hockey sense as an issue. I get the argument that an off-the-puck winger can he held back by his line-mates. I also understand that at the NHL level this is likely the role he'd settle into. However, I would argue that a more cerebral and more engaged player, with his tools, would have figured out a way to be more impactful at the OHL level. He hasn't done that yet, which suggests that he's at least limited in how he thinks the game.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

From several OHL viewings, I don't think we can rule out hockey sense as an issue. I get the argument that an off-the-puck winger can he held back by his line-mates. I also understand that at the NHL level this is likely the role he'd settle into. However, I would argue that a more cerebral and more engaged player, with his tools, would have figured out a way to be more impactful at the OHL level. He hasn't done that yet, which suggests that he's at least limited in how he thinks the game.

It could/may very well be a limiting factor for him at the next level. But it won't prevent him from making the NHL as a regular player who can play a semi-impactful bottom 6 game. Just my opinion.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think the divergence of opinions about Boucher is very telling.

Almost everyone who has commented from knowledge of watching the kid play comments about how they believe he’s a talented hockey player with a pretty uncommon skillset.

Almost everyone who comments without knowledge of watching him play points to his stats and says that means he’ll be a bust.

The latter category of people could end up right. He may bust. So could almost any prospect. However, it may be time for the latter category to reevaluate how they are assessing Boucher.

 

[brakeyawself]

They took him like 6 spots ahead of Othmann. HUGE mistake. Othmann looks like he's going to be similar to what Sens were hoping Boucher would turn into. And right now, it doesn't even look close. Rangers got a steal. Sens blew a pick that at worst they could have probably traded down and still grabbed in the 15-20 range. But looking for a power forward, taking Boucher over Othmann is going to be a dark spot on the ledger for the Sens for years to come. Even if he does turn into a decent bottom 6 NHLer, which is about what his ceiling looks like right now. He certainly has some high end skills. But I don't think those skills combine to form the complete package you want out of a number 10 pick. I'm sure he'll find a role in the NHL and I'm sure he will score some goals with that shot. But that still doesn't mean he looks like a top 6 forward. I don't think the only options are star or bust. Becoming just an average NHL power forward is likely the highest probability. Maybe like a 20/20, 20/15 type producer. Definitely think he will be one to score more goals than assists. Poor man's Kreider.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

They took him like 6 spots ahead of Othmann. HUGE mistake. Othmann looks like he's going to be similar to what Sens were hoping Boucher would turn into. And right now, it doesn't even look close. Rangers got a steal. Sens blew a pick that at worst they could have probably traded down and still grabbed in the 15-20 range. But looking for a power forward, taking Boucher over Othmann is going to be a dark spot on the ledger for the Sens for years to come. Even if he does turn into a decent bottom 6 NHLer, which is about what his ceiling looks like right now. He certainly has some high end skills. But I don't think those skills combine to form the complete package you want out of a number 10 pick. I'm sure he'll find a role in the NHL and I'm sure he will score some goals with that shot. But that still doesn't mean he looks like a top 6 forward. I don't think the only options are star or bust. Becoming just an average NHL power forward is likely the highest probability. Maybe like a 20/20, 20/15 type producer. Definitely think he will be one to score more goals than assists. Poor man's Kreider.

Othmann and Boucher are nothing alike. Boucher doesn’t play like Kreider. If you want a Senators young player that has some similarities to Kreider, the closest is Formenton.

 

[Senator Stanley]

I think the divergence of opinions about Boucher is very telling.

Almost everyone who has commented from knowledge of watching the kid play comments about how they believe he’s a talented hockey player with a pretty uncommon skillset.

Almost everyone who comments without knowledge of watching him play points to his stats and says that means he’ll be a bust.

The latter category of people could end up right. He may bust. So could almost any prospect. However, it may be time for the latter category to reevaluate how they are assessing Boucher.

I suppose I fall into this group, but I'm not ruling out the possibility that he'll bust. I think people often overstate the floor for players like this. They assume that because the player has obvious NHL tools and draft pedigree that they will, at minimum, carve out a bottom 6 NHL career. Many don't. I'm not making one-to-one comparisons, but guys like Ryan O'Marra and Mark McNeil come to mind.

 

[AmericanDream]

How about a bit smaller/more skilled Pat Maroon??

Listen now, before the pitch forks come out lol...Maroon had skill and a hell of a shot back in the day. Kid scored lots of goals in junior/AHL. A number of things held him back (that I believe Boucher is better at) until he truly found his niche.

I think Boucher could be that type of presence as everyone wants the next Tom Wilson.

I think the Sens didn't do Boucher a ton of favors by drafting him so high, but that was where their pick was and he was their guy...it is what it is.

If people show patience with him I believe he will pay off. Bigger kids like this typically take longer to get going, you are also talking about a kid that has dealt with numerous injuries over the years, he barely has 45 games played in 2 years....

 

[Hale The Villain]

If a player has the tools (size and speed) and skill (hands and shooting ability) to produce good numbers but fails to, questions do have to be asked about how smart the player is.

Players with high hockey IQ get the most out of the tools and skill they have, players with low hockey IQ do not.

Certain posters would do well to focus more on hockey sense in evaluating and projecting prospects, otherwise they'll over-value players like Boucher that have eye-catching tools and good skills, but below average brains that don't allow them to produce what they should given the assets they have to work with.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

How about a bit smaller/more skilled Pat Maroon??

Listen now, before the pitch forks come out lol...Maroon had skill and a hell of a shot back in the day. Kid scored lots of goals in junior/AHL. A number of things held him back (that I believe Boucher is better at) until he truly found his niche.

I think Boucher could be that type of presence as everyone wants the next Tom Wilson.

I think the Sens didn't do Boucher a ton of favors by drafting him so high, but that was where their pick was and he was their guy...it is what it is.

If people show patience with him I believe he will pay off. Bigger kids like this typically take longer to get going, you are also talking about a kid that has dealt with numerous injuries over the years, he barely has 45 games played in 2 years....

Maroon is not a bad comparison. I think the best comparison I’ve seen is Chris Neill, which Senators fans will know all about. I don’t know if you are happy with Chris Neill at 10, but I think if in a vacuum you get the career of Chris Neill with a first round pick that’s not a bad outcome. Could be better and could be worse. Possible Boucher is a complete bust and possible he ends up something approximating a Tom Wilson. He has a wide range of outcomes.

 

[AmericanDream]

If a player has the tools (size and speed) and skill (hands and shooting ability) to produce good numbers but fails to, questions do have to be asked about how smart the player is.

Players with high hockey IQ get the most out of the tools and skill they have, players with low hockey IQ do not.

Certain posters would do well to focus more on hockey sense in evaluating and projecting prospects, otherwise they'll over-value players like Boucher that have eye-catching tools and good skills, but below average brains that don't allow them to produce what they should given the assets they have to work with.

In barely 45 games played in 2 years after a significant injury you are comfortable stating this about him??

And then say "Certain posters"......right...

 

[99ovr]

In barely 45 games played in 2 years after a significant injury you are comfortable stating this about him??

And then say "Certain posters"......right...

That`s what I`m saying, he`s a project player that`s barely played over the last 2 years. He needs time and games to put everything together, he definitely flashes high end skills in certain areas but needs consistency (which again comes with time and games).

He`s never going to be the player that creates offense out of nothing (like Zegras, Stutzle, etc...) he`s always going to be the finisher or making short/quick passes to advance play. This is why I believe his numbers are low, he's a project player, he's barely played and is a complimentary player If he's anything under PPG next year then somethings gone very wrong but this year is a pass considering his situation.