His skating is it for me. He doesn't have the greatest mechanics and he isn't a start and stop guy either. It isn't terrible to be sure, but a lot of his defensive issues exist for him because of his skating. So when they are happening, it is because he glides to areas. He doesn't have the best edge work on top of not having the greatest acceleration or top end gear.
While it isn't bad, it gives me a second pairing feel. I mean when projecting him in a way I want to see him hit he reminds me of a Alex Edler in Vancouver. A really good player, I am not trying to argue that I don't think Bouchard will play in the league.
But you have asked this as well, name me the #1 D-man in the league that isn't a great skater? Bouchard isn't going to be as physically imposing as Pronger, Weber or Chara and frankly while he has some nice weapons he doesn't have their arsenal either in terms of shot even if he has a very good one. If he is who we wind up with though and I want to make this clear before the pick which I probably should have done with Rasmussen it isn't the end of the world. He has a lot of positives, after the U18s and more film analysis on these guys he has fallen to 10 on my list though, so I will say I would be a little disappointed if he is the guy we wind up with is all. I had him at #5 though at one point this season, so I mean there is a lot to like. I just want to maximize skill and speed in this draft and I think there are better options in my opinion.
He does a great job of transitioning the puck but sometimes he forces it up ice. I think that does fit the league, he doesn't want to have the puck on his stick for very long and that is a trait I like in D-man. But I do think transporting it is also important at times in this league unless you have a ridiculous ability to distribute and that is harder to tell at this level. I just wonder on the athleticism in terms of Bouchard at times and there are guys that have monumental ceilings around him. I guess if he makes gains in certain areas, all of these guys could have big ceilings I just believe more in the other D-man is all, personal preference.