Prospect Info: 2018 Draft: 1st pick: Evan Bouchard (D) - Sent back to London (11/02/18)

[Roof Daddy]

Hmmmm I don't know if I agree entirely with this. His shot is good but his best asset is his IQ and stretch pass.

I think Carlson is the best comparable based on current players (and the London connection), but how about this name - Tomas Kaberle. I think he’s a hybrid of the two players. Kaberle in his prime had one of the best stretch passes in the game. There’s equal elements of both players - Carlson’s PP QB ability, (prime) Kaberle’s breakout ability.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

I think Carlson is the best comparable based on current players (and the London connection), but how about this name - Tomas Kaberle. I think he’s a hybrid of the two players. Kaberle in his prime had one of the best stretch passes in the game. There’s equal elements of both players - Carlson’s PP QB ability, (prime) Kaberle’s breakout ability.

hopefully he's a littler grittier than Kaberle

Tomas was one of the softest players in the league
plus Bouchard has a great shot...something Kaberle never possessed

 

[Tobias Kahun]

His passing and quick decisions moving the puck is nothing short of incredible.

He processes the game so fast.

If he was an above average skater, he would of gone top 5, he has time to work on that.

Such a smart player though, he plays the game fast with his decision making

 

[Aerchon]

I'm not sure there is any reason to have a comparable for Bouchard.

He seems to have a higher offensive ceiling than Carlson initially had.

He himself has staTed he wants to be a two way defender and cited Doughty as a player he idolizes.

From the bits that I have heard and seen his two way game has taken great strides.

Breaking down his skills:

Elite passing
Great shoot
Superb IQ
Improving defense

Average skating.

Unless his skating improves significantly in today's NHL it's think he will have troubles being a two way superstar in the league like a Doughty. His shot and skills certainly lend to a elite offensive defenseman but again without elite skating again it will be tough to be a offensive superstar.

With his IQ and work ethic I really don't see that his skating will hold him back from greatness just a matter of how great.

Especially with his passing and playing on the same team as McDavid, Nuge, and Draisaitl I see him having incredible success no matter what.

I am curious how good Bouchards career will be and how quickly it develops. Super high ceiling and floor. Still geeking out he dropped to 10. Incredible talent.

 

[Gordian Knot]

Players who are great passers can become great skaters too, but it very seldom goes other way round as they tend to rely on their skating too often and do not develop on passing as much. And McDavid is exception.
During his short visit in big games I saw many great 10 feet passes from Bouchard that are easy looking but hard to execute under pressure. He will be fine against the best lines, I couldn’t be more sure about it.

 

[Roof Daddy]

hopefully he's a littler grittier than Kaberle

Tomas was one of the softest players in the league
plus Bouchard has a great shot...something Kaberle never possessed

Which is why I said equal parts Carlson (shot) and Kaberle (breakout/stretch pass). And yes, Kaberle was one of the softest D men in the game. While I don’t think Bouchard will ever intimidate anyone, I too expect him to play with more edge than Kaberle... it would be impossible not to.

 

[elmeroil]

I'm going to watch him live in London January 11, really looking forward to it.

 

[ThreeOfAPerfectPair]

TSN segment.
Bouchard's vision almost Gretzky-like?
"Evan Bouchard is often more fundamental than flashy, but his vision on the ice have some comparing him to one of the greatest players of all-time. James Duthie has more on the 'special' defenceman."

 

[Del Preston]

Great play in OT tonight that was wasted by his coach.

 

[Hopelesslucicfan]

TSN segment.
Bouchard's vision almost Gretzky-like?
"Evan Bouchard is often more fundamental than flashy, but his vision on the ice have some comparing him to one of the greatest players of all-time. James Duthie has more on the 'special' defenceman."

Between nuge, bouch, mcdavid, and petterson, the pacific sure has a lot of people with Gretzky vision...

 

[ThreeOfAPerfectPair]

Between nuge, bouch, mcdavid, and petterson, the pacific sure has a lot of people with Gretzky vision...

Meh, I don't mind hype pieces being dramatic like that. Everyone knows whats up.

 

[McJadeddog]

Well that TSN piece on him wasn't hyperbole at all, lol.

Look, I like Bouchard, and think he has a very good chance of being that PP QB we've lacked for a decade - maybe even as early as next year. But he has his warts as well.

 

[BoldNewLettuce]

Well that TSN piece on him wasn't hyperbole at all, lol.

Look, I like Bouchard, and think he has a very good chance of being that PP QB we've lacked for a decade - maybe even as early as next year. But he has his warts as well.

I just wonder if Persson is better than him.

 

[McDrai]

I see a lot of Justin Schultz in him; hopefully that is not the case and he becomes a solid top pairing defenseman

 

[TopShelfGloveSide]

I see a lot of Justin Schultz in him; hopefully that is not the case and he becomes a solid top pairing defenseman

From his time here? Or the WJ tourney?

 

[backhandsauce]

That bank pass could work with McDavid....

 

[Hopelesslucicfan]

Honestly, if bouchard makes the team next year, I want it to be as nothing more than a bottom pairing PP specialist unless he takes a big leap in his all around game.

Klef larsson
Nurse _____
Russel Jones/Bear/Bouchard
Sekera/Manning/Benning

Would be my realistic D group going into next season. hopefully find a top 4 stop gap for next year and let the rookies fight it out for the bottom pairing spot with lots of PP time until they play their way into more situations.

I like the thought of having two of bear, bouchard, and jones in the AHL for injury depth.

Sekera returning to form and taking that number 4 spot would be ideal, but not something I'm willing to bet on right now.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Honestly, if bouchard makes the team next year, I want it to be as nothing more than a bottom pairing PP specialist unless he takes a big leap in his all around game.

Klef larsson
Nurse _____
Russel Jones/Bear/Bouchard
Sekera/Manning/Benning

Would be my realistic D group going into next season. hopefully find a top 4 stop gap for next year and let the rookies fight it out for the bottom pairing spot with lots of PP time until they play their way into more situations.

I like the thought of having two of bear, bouchard, and jones in the AHL for injury depth.

Sekera returning to form and taking that number 4 spot would be ideal, but not something I'm willing to bet on right now.

He needs a couple years in the AHL

 

[Hopelesslucicfan]

He needs a couple years in the AHL

Ideally, next season would be a full year in the AHL, unless he blows us away at TC, and then re evaluate the following season.

Knowing this org though, he'll be playing 20 minutes right from game 1.

 

[McDrai]

From his time here? Or the WJ tourney?

Mostly from the WJ tourney, but oddly I think he looked a fair bit better up in the NHL than in the WJC. Not sure if he was playing with an injury or just going through a rough patch

 

[North]

Mostly from the WJ tourney, but oddly I think he looked a fair bit better up in the NHL than in the WJC. Not sure if he was playing with an injury or just going through a rough patch

I think someone else said it perfectly. There didn’t seem to be a lot of structure with Team Canada and thus nobody really stood out in a good way.

 

[McDrai]

I think someone else said it perfectly. There didn’t seem to be a lot of structure with Team Canada and thus nobody really stood out in a good way.

Yeah that's true. Dobson actually looked worse in my opinion. Ty Smith looked to be the best of the bunch (for the dmen) as the tourney went on but no one really stood out and made me think "wow, that's a great player"

 

[Ritchie Valens]

I would think Marc Habscheid gets asked if he wants to coach Canada again next year seeing how he has the Raiders at a ridiculous points pace with only 3 regulation losses so far this season.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Honestly, if bouchard makes the team next year, I want it to be as nothing more than a bottom pairing PP specialist unless he takes a big leap in his all around game.

Klef larsson
Nurse _____
Russel Jones/Bear/Bouchard
Sekera/Manning/Benning

Would be my realistic D group going into next season. hopefully find a top 4 stop gap for next year and let the rookies fight it out for the bottom pairing spot with lots of PP time until they play their way into more situations.

I like the thought of having two of bear, bouchard, and jones in the AHL for injury depth.

Sekera returning to form and taking that number 4 spot would be ideal, but not something I'm willing to bet on right now.

That should be what is expected of him if he does make it. I he happens to be ready for more, that's great. If not, he shouldn't be thrown into a position that he can't handle.

I see a lot of Justin Schultz in him; hopefully that is not the case and he becomes a solid top pairing defenseman

I saw lots of both guys early in their pro careers and IMO they're not similar at all.

Schultz was by far the better skater. He has a lethal wrist shot and his skating allowed him to jump into the play regularly. His battle level and strength were not strong points in the least.

Bouchard is much stronger, has a much better slapper, plays more physical (even though he doesn't play like Larsson for instance) and is more calm under pressure. IMO the only area that I'd consider Schultz clearly superior is in terms of their skating.

 

[Blue Line Turnover]

Yeah that's true. Dobson actually looked worse in my opinion. Ty Smith looked to be the best of the bunch (for the dmen) as the tourney went on but no one really stood out and made me think "wow, that's a great player"

Yeah, from my subjective evaluation, Smith looked overall better than both Dobson and Bouchard. I found this surprising because I felt that he was a bit less skilled than the other two during their junior careers. He did have the benefit of having better D partners than Bouchard during the WJC, though.