Prospect Info: Tyler Boucher (RW/LW) - Don`t sleep on Tyler Boucher

[GCK]

It's status quo, which isn't great.

He is playing much better but he isn’t dominant ing at all. Give him time, it’s going to be a long development that could pay off huge. I definitely have my doubts but I’m being patient

 

[OD99]

7 points in 6 games as a 19 year old is not impressive. That said, at least it isn't a disaster.

It's a massive upgrade over last season so I am taking it as a very nice step forward.

It is a good team but we needed him to gain some confidence and produce. He is doing that so meeting the threshold of developing.

 

[cudi]

 

[JD1]

6 goals in 7 games

Idk what guys were expecting when they wanted the kid to dominate but i suspect he's a lock for the world junior and he might get 50 this year

 

[ottawah]

7 points in 6 games as a 19 year old is not impressive. That said, at least it isn't a disaster.

Its improvement. Heck, almost 3 times his PPG from last year. I'll take that as a start. Yes a long way to go, but its something positive.

 

[ottawah]

6 goals in 7 games

Idk what guys were expecting when they wanted the kid to dominate but i suspect he's a lock for the world junior and he might get 50 this year

Would not call him a lock. Team USA is notorious for avoiding CHL players. They took only one CHL foward and no D last year. And thats not a break from tradition.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

 

[aragorn]

Boucher is never going to be a puck moving puck handling flashy player that people want like Stutzle or Batherson. He's going to go to the net & pick up the loose pucks, he's going to hit & fight for loose pucks along the boards & in the corners. He's more like Tkachuk than Stutzle & he's always going to have his critics given where he was drafted. Guys with his physical edge that can skate & score are highly sought after, he may have been drafted higher than he should, but he will help this team, he's built for the playoffs. And he already has an NHL shot.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

6 goals in 7 games

Idk what guys were expecting when they wanted the kid to dominate but i suspect he's a lock for the world junior and he might get 50 this year

I've watched parts of most of his games and from what I've seen he is generating a lot of scoring chances out there. The most notable improvement is his positioning and that is something that both Troy and Trent Mann mentioned he needed to continue to work on. He is displaying a lot better offensive instincts around the net and is consistently putting himself in the right positions to get dangerous shot attempts off.

With some slight improvements on his shot angles he could have a significant amount of more goals this season. I think we will actually see his production kick it up a notch in the 2nd half of the season. I think he is starting to gain comfort with the positioning and instincts around the net and over time I believe he will start making those improvements on his shot angles which will lead to even more goals.

He has also had some nice passes that other players haven't converted on so his production could also see a bump from simply continuing to generate those chances. He has played very well so far and is actually doing a really good job carrying the puck, holding onto it for longer and allowing other players to get in position so plays can unfold. These are all very good signs.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

He is getting his shot off quicker in different ways and his team mates are looking for him as a shooter.
Good to see him finding the back of the net.

 

[PlayersLtd]

I've watched parts of most of his games and from what I've seen he is generating a lot of scoring chances out there. The most notable improvement is his positioning and that is something that both Troy and Trent Mann mentioned he needed to continue to work on. He is displaying a lot better offensive instincts around the net and is consistently putting himself in the right positions to get dangerous shot attempts off.

With some slight improvements on his shot angles he could have a significant amount of more goals this season. I think we will actually see his production kick it up a notch in the 2nd half of the season. I think he is starting to gain comfort with the positioning and instincts around the net and over time I believe he will start making those improvements on his shot angles which will lead to even more goals.

He has also had some nice passes that other players haven't converted on so his production could also see a bump from simply continuing to generate those chances. He has played very well so far and is actually doing a really good job carrying the puck, holding onto it for longer and allowing other players to get in position so plays can unfold. These are all very good signs.

One thing that stood out to me in the preseason and rookie camp is how solid his positioning was. He appeared to always be on the right side of the puck, or moving in the right direction. Rarely caught flat footed and rarely caught behind the play.

When you assess this within the context of what the Mann's said it gives me more hope than just about any stat line. I put a lot of stock into a player who is focused on improving the basic but valuable fundamentals like that, and foregoing the shinier things.

It tells me he is coachable, is dedicated to improvement, has the work ethic, no ego and is willing to park the flashier parts of his game in favour of developing a pro game. Take this stuff and apply it to the adversity he has faced over the last 1.5 years as well as the look in his eye of humility and determination and there is no question in my mind that he is going to emerge as a very valuable NHLer. Maybe not an all star, but a major difference maker on the ice once it all comes together.

And yeah, totally agree that his production will increase later in the year. Ill take it one step further and say that his production will follow a similar path at the AHL and NHL levels as he moves up. He will focus on smart, safe, developmental hockey until he gets more and more comfortable and then begins re-integrating his offensive tools into his game.

I'm high on him for a few reasons but mainly because I think he is much more determined and intelligent with his own development than people are giving him credit for.

 

[Pinto Bean]

Glad to see that Boucher is scoring. Haven't gotten the chance to watch the 67's this year so I ask - Has Tyler Boucher been living up to his "reputation" of being a physical/hard to play against type of player?

Admittedly when I watched him last year I really didn't understand the claims that he was some physical beast who dominates the game with his size and strength. He would get a massive hit every 10 or so games and that was about it. I really didn't see that hard to play against physicality.

How has he been doing this year in that regard? Is his physicality and ruggedness more on display this season? Does it look translatable to the NHL?

 

[GCK]

Not defending the Boucher pick at 10OA in the slightest but this seemed like a good place to post this.

I watched Sillinger against the Pens yesterday and I’m unsure why everyone thinks he’s the next coming of Christ. It was one game but not impressed at all. Looks like a bottom 6 forward to me.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Not defending the Boucher pick at 10OA in the slightest but this seemed like a good place to post this.

I watched Sillinger against the Pens yesterday and I’m unsure why everyone thinks he’s the next coming of Christ. It was one game but not impressed at all. Looks like a bottom 6 forward to me.

I believe in Boucher however Sillinger is clearly the better asset and fans are right to be pissed he was passed. Cole Sillinger is a 19 year old that is playing in the NHL and has 86 games behind him. All signs point to Silinger being a long term serviceable middle 6 player guaranteed he will likely progress into a top 6 role soon.

Tyler Boucher on the other hand is playing in the CHL at the same age and not really standing out too much while he is at it.

Sillinger could have been a great trade chip for that top 4 D we are looking for right now.

 

[SAK11]

Not defending the Boucher pick at 10OA in the slightest but this seemed like a good place to post this.

I watched Sillinger against the Pens yesterday and I’m unsure why everyone thinks he’s the next coming of Christ. It was one game but not impressed at all. Looks like a bottom 6 forward to me.

Christ? No. A better pick than Boucher? Probably.

Anyway, it seems obvious why he generated plenty of discussion. He was picked directly after Boucher when he was the guy a lot of people wanted. And then of course he made the NHL as an 18 year old and scored nearly 20 goals.

Bad start to this year, though.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

I'm glad he's getting a lot of touches with the puck. Playing a lot with the puck on his stick and hopefully making more plays is what we want to see. Get those hands going. We know he has good hockey sense and knows where to be and what to do, it's getting the skating and hand skills where they need to be to take advantage of those smarts.

 

[DJB]

Not defending the Boucher pick at 10OA in the slightest but this seemed like a good place to post this.

I watched Sillinger against the Pens yesterday and I’m unsure why everyone thinks he’s the next coming of Christ. It was one game but not impressed at all. Looks like a bottom 6 forward to me.

Sillinger was rushed and should not be in the NHL

 

[bicboi64]

He's going to go to the net & pick up the loose pucks, he's going to hit & fight for loose pucks along the boards & in the corners. He's more like Tkachuk than Stutzle & he's always going to have his critics given where he was drafted.

The notion of having two players in our top 9 that will be physical beasts fighting for loose pucks and creating space has me hyped. Defenses will have so much trouble figuring out how to match up against an offense that has multiple players that play the way Tkachuk, Boucher, etc... would.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Not defending the Boucher pick at 10OA in the slightest but this seemed like a good place to post this.

I watched Sillinger against the Pens yesterday and I’m unsure why everyone thinks he’s the next coming of Christ. It was one game but not impressed at all. Looks like a bottom 6 forward to me.

He started off hot His rookie season. That’s it.

 

[Icelevel]

I’d rather have Boucher than Sillinger.
Long way to go but good to see offensive improvements this year.
That’s all I was hoping to see - improvements/progression.

 

[playasRus]

I’d rather have Boucher than Sillinger.
Long way to go but good to see offensive improvements this year.
That’s all I was hoping to see - improvements/progression.

Sillinger in a package for Chychrun would possibly get the ball rolling though. Boucher doesn't do it for most trade proposals.

 

[Icelevel]

Sillinger in a package for Chychrun would possibly get the ball rolling though. Boucher doesn't do it for most trade proposals.

Keep Boucher. Get Kleven ready and we’re good.
This yr figure out what we got with Thomson, jbd

 

[bicboi64]

I think Boucher not appearing "up there" in terms of draft stock helps us out for his development. Unless a team is willing to consider him as a major piece in a package for a top 4RD, we're better off letting him cook and develop so he can make the big club by the time players like Giroux decline or if we need some youth on the 3rd line.

Also find it intriguing that Sillinger seems to be the biggest "who we could've had" in discussions of Boucher not being good enough for the 10th overall pick. I wanted Lucius or Lysell. Guess its proximity of Boucher and Sillinger being drafted

 

[bert]

He is playing much better but he isn’t dominant ing at all. Give him time, it’s going to be a long development that could pay off huge. I definitely have my doubts but I’m being patient

Stat watching only a player that was drafted for his physicality offers absolutely no contribution to this discussion.

6 goals in 7 games

Idk what guys were expecting when they wanted the kid to dominate but i suspect he's a lock for the world junior and he might get 50 this year

Right... This board makes no sense sometimes. He is a powerforward not a play making winger. Next post after yours I see 'he has a long way to go but it's a start'. Guys on pace for 50+ goals while being a heavy player.

 

[bert]

Not defending the Boucher pick at 10OA in the slightest but this seemed like a good place to post this.

I watched Sillinger against the Pens yesterday and I’m unsure why everyone thinks he’s the next coming of Christ. It was one game but not impressed at all. Looks like a bottom 6 forward to me.

You should watch him more than one game then. Elite shot and hockey sense. Just playing in the league in a top 9 role at his age is impressive especially at center. No need to go this route... Tearing down Sillinger isn't going to make Boucher any better. Sillinger should have been picked higher than he went. The sens missed but it doesn't mean Boucher can't be good too.

Sillinger in a package for Chychrun would possibly get the ball rolling though. Boucher doesn't do it for most trade proposals.

The sens don't need Chychrun on any level. They don't have money for him. He also plays a position of strength. I'd be furious if they traded a cost controlled player like Sillinger for him.