When will Bouchard be considered elite?

[Tillain]

He was the best player in the series. Period.

It's either him or Drai. I kind of expected it from Drai though at this point. Seeing Bouch blossom like he has is extra great to watch though imo.

 

[iCanada]

As of tonight he's the only defenseman in NHL history to have more than 20 points through two rounds of the playoffs.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Would bet my life savings that Evan Bouchard never wins a Norris.

 

[Soundwave]

Small sample size. I remember a thread just like this one two years ago. Let’s see how his defense holds up against Dallas first.

Dude has 37 points in his last 24 playoff games. Is 24 games in the playoffs a small sample size?

 

[Nasti]

He's also +10 leading the playoffs.

Again, let’s see how he does against Dallas.

 

[ijuka]

Again, let’s see how he does against Dallas.

Yeah, and let me guess, if he does well it won't matter, and if he does poorly it'll outweigh anything else he's done all season long?

What's your model's predictive rate using identical criteria for every single player?

 

[Boxscore]

I made a thread during the season about his high level of play and everyone said I was dumb and he wasn't good and leeched points off McDavid/Drai.

December 10, 2023 Bouchard Thread

The "problem" with Bouchard is that he's not as "flashy" as guys like Makar and Hughes. And, because of that, he won't get his just due, which is unfair. He has a weapon those other guys don't have... which is an absolute rocket from the point that he knows how to place as good as any D in the league. He's also a big minutes muncher and has a nice reach. Someone mentioned John Carlson... and that's who he reminds me of... but he's even more dangerous. What he's doing in these playoffs is absolutely elite.

 

[Bank Shot]

Again, let’s see how he does against Dallas.

Lets get back to this in 20 years when he's got a 1000 points and stuff.

The "problem" with Bouchard is that he's not as "flashy" as guys like Makar and Hughes. And, because of that, he won't get his just due, which is unfair. He has a weapon those other guys don't have... which is an absolute rocket from the point that he knows how to place as good as any D in the league. He's also a big minutes muncher and has a nice reach. Someone mentioned John Carlson... and that's who he reminds me of... but he's even more dangerous. What he's doing in these playoffs is absolutely elite.

His wrister is lethal and accurate as well.

And a pinpoint stretch pass.

He is kind of a slow skater though.

 

[Soundwave]

Again, let’s see how he does against Dallas.

The main reason the Oilers are even playing Dallas is because of Bouchard, lol, he was the MVP of the series and got them into round 3. They (McDavid included) all owe that dude a dinner.

 

[Bizzare]

@WarriorofTime bet would still be open.

 

[Boxscore]

As of tonight he's the only defenseman in NHL history to have more than 20 points through two rounds of the playoffs.

Crazy. He's been a beast.

 

[Nasti]

Yeah, and let me guess, if he does well it won't matter, and if he does poorly it'll outweigh anything else he's done all season long?

What's your model's predictive rate using identical criteria for every single player?

Dude, your team just made it to the conference final. Be happy with that. Not everyone needs to fawn over your players. Sorry we don’t agree.

 

[Soundwave]

As of tonight he's the only defenseman in NHL history to have more than 20 points through two rounds of the playoffs.

Is that right? That just seems insane.

 

[Nasti]

The main reason the Oilers are even playing Dallas is because of Bouchard, lol, he was the MVP of the series and got them into round 3. They (McDavid included) all owe that dude a dinner.

Or the main reason is because they’re in the weakest division.

 

[647Hockey]

The "problem" with Bouchard is that he's not as "flashy" as guys like Makar and Hughes. And, because of that, he won't get his just due, which is unfair. He has a weapon those other guys don't have... which is an absolute rocket from the point that he knows how to place as good as any D in the league. He's also a big minutes muncher and has a nice reach. Someone mentioned John Carlson... and that's who he reminds me of... but he's even more dangerous. What he's doing in these playoffs is absolutely elite.

His wrister is lethal and accurate as well.

And a pinpoint stretch pass.

He is kind of a slow skater though.

I agree. I dont watch Oilers games often, but his shots are not only on target, but he can get them on net hard from far distances. Even a shot on net from the corner of the blue line is deadly.

Makar and Hughes play and skate like forwards zipping around. Bouchard can get just as many points, but he plays a more traditional speed dman blasting shots from the blue line.

In sports, scoring always gets more eyeballs and bigger pay cheques. And if there's numerous dudes with similar stats, the flashier players always gets more spotlight and popularity.

 

[NyQuil]

I remember hearing about how elite Nurse was defensively when he signed his big contract.

Give it time, the reputation always lags a bit and if he keeps it up, great.

 

[Steven Toast]

Again, let’s see how he does against Dallas.

Surely you are aware that a single playoff series is a small sample size?

 

[ricky0034]

most of his most vocal critics have been bashing the guy since before he was even drafted, have made dozens if not hundreds of posts about it, and would sooner die than admit that he even belongs in the NHL at all let alone that he might actually be even slightly good

 

[Boxscore]

Lets get back to this in 20 years when he's got a 1000 points and stuff.


His wrister is lethal and accurate as well.

And a pinpoint stretch pass.

He is kind of a slow skater though.

Truth. Offensively, he's in the elite tier, and may even headline it beginning next year. When the Oilers are firing on all cylinders and McDavid is bagging 150+ again, Draisaitl 120... Bouchard might break 100 points on D for a couple of years.

 

[WarriorofTime]

@WarriorofTime bet would still be open.

risky bet

 

[Soundwave]

Or the main reason is because they’re in the weakest division.

Or you know like a d-man that scored 5 goals in 7 games, game winner in two of the games, and took the Norris Trophy winner's lunch money head to head.

Stuff like that tends to tilt a series.

 

[Grifter3511]

Just, please, get him a better nickname.

Well, I don't know if it's a nickname or just something they say when he shoots from the point, but Bouch bomb? Cmon. Sounds like a feminine hygiene product.

 

[Pass the Saitl Sauce]

Since his London knights days I’ve always kind of compared Bouchard to a modernized Zubov. If he continues to iron out his brain farts in the D zone he will be in consideration for the norris but he’s not there yet. He’s come leaps and bounds in his own zone though and it is time for people to start acknowledging it

 

[Bizzare]

risky bet

Wouldn’t be too concerned. Especially if they fail to lock up McDrai moving forward… we’ll see!

 

[albator71]

Now let's see how many pts he gets playing a real team the Dallas Stars