Confirmed with Link: Devils sign Reid Boucher to ELC

[aboriginal]

I can see him being brought in later this season, and given a shot. He'll probably go to the A, but I can see him getting a chance like Matteau.

yeah hell be this seasons, and our version of kreider. hopefully better though.

 

[B A T M A N]

Anybody know why he was selected in the fifth round and not sooner? He seems a lot better than a former fifth round pick.

 

[Rob Nieds work ethic]

Anybody know why he was selected in the fifth round and not sooner? He seems a lot better than a former fifth round pick.

He was a fourth round pick. Size maybe?

The beauty of the draft is talent can come from anywhere, in any round.

 

[Saugus]

Size is one reason, also his defensive ability and skating skill were not thought to be up to NHL calibre. Everybody knew he had a great shot, but apart from that he was a long term project.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Anybody know why he was selected in the fifth round and not sooner? He seems a lot better than a former fifth round pick.

He was a one-dimensional player known for literally nothing except his shot. Size issues, skating issues, D issues, you name it. He's done a lot of work to improve his game and it's obviously made a huge difference. There's been a few Sarnia fans coming around these parts to talk about how his overall game has improved.

 

[Rob Nieds work ethic]

Despite his height (178 cm) he's still very compact and weighs quite a bit.

 

[MountainGoat]

one thing he's shown this season is he's a quick learner and has all the tools to improve, give him a year in Albany please Lou

 

[MasterofGrond]

one thing he's shown this season is he's a quick learner and has all the tools to improve, give him a year in Albany please Lou

He'll get at least one, probably two

 

[Getzo5]

Anybody know why he was selected in the fifth round and not sooner? He seems a lot better than a former fifth round pick.

Ask Jamie Benn.

Pretty much what everybody else said.

Despite his height (178 cm) he's still very compact and weighs quite a bit.

Afaik he actually had to lose some weight before the season. Not muscle wieght, obviously.

 

[BenedictGomez]

And they called me crazy when I proposed this!

There's a big difference to signing a kid so he can taste the AHL, and playing him in the NHL.

 

[glenwo2]

Look....the only reason Matteau was kept up here was because Zubie got hurt.

If he was still healthy, MyToe would've been playing in the Minors right now.

 

[Bleedred]

Look....the only reason Matteau was kept up here was because Zubie got hurt.

If he was still healthy, MyToe would've been playing in the Minors right now.

I think it was cause of Zubes too. Think about it, they made a conscious decision to shut him down after the 5 games. He sat another 4 or 5 before getting back in. I think it's possible he spend next year in the minors rather than stay up for 5-10 minutes a game.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Future line Boucher-Lotki-Kovy? Sounds good to me.

 

[glenwo2]

I think it was cause of Zubes too. Think about it, they made a conscious decision to shut him down after the 5 games. He sat another 4 or 5 before getting back in. I think it's possible he spend next year in the minors rather than stay up for 5-10 minutes a game.

Gotta admit, though. He's certainly learning a lot on the job right off the bat.


He'll be even more polished once he is able to spend a year in the minors further honing his game.

 

[Zubrus Coffee Maker]

i've seen too many junior scorers turn to nothing the NHL to be very excited about this, but still, its good to get the kid signed and see what he's got. hopefully he's special

 

[Jack Griffin]

His contract doesn't start until next year so he can't play in the NHL this year. He'll need at least a full year in Albany anyway.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Despite his height (178 cm) he's still very compact and weighs quite a bit.

Uh, 178cm / 2.54cm/in = unhhhh.... 5 foot 9.6 inches.

 

[njdss4]

NJ thumps Philly and the Devils sign Boucher to an ELC?

 

[MartyOwns]

this needs much, much more love

 

[JimEIV]

i've seen too many junior scorers turn to nothing the NHL to be very excited about this, but still, its good to get the kid signed and see what he's got. hopefully he's special

While I wouldn't disagree one bit, I think the bigger thing to look for is the progression rather than just point totals. I find one of the best indicators of a young player(for scoring potential at higher levels) is seeing a constant rise in the stat line. So the 62 goals and 94 points is not what I find impressive, it is the +44 in points from one year to the next and the -19 to a +15 is what catches my eye.

Still one year jumps don't tell you much, but 3 year rises absolutely tell you a tremendous amount.

For me the jury is still out. I believe a year in Albany will tell you a lot.

EDIT:
There seems to be progress in every year he has played...Which is very encouraging in my opinion.

2009-10 U.S. National Under-18 Team USHL 1 0 0 0 0 0
2009-10 U.S. National Under-17 Team USHL 23 10 4 14 22 -9
2010-11 U.S. National Development Team USHL 24 14 6 20 13 6
2011-12 Albany Devils AHL 1 0 0 0 0 -1
2011-12 Sarnia Sting OHL 67 28 22 50 19 -19 6 2 1 3 4
2012-13 Sarnia Sting OHL 65 62 32 94 53 15

 

[Classic Devil]

While I wouldn't disagree one bit, I think the bigger thing to look for is the progression rather than just point totals. I find one of the best indicators of a young player(for scoring potential at higher levels) is seeing a constant rise in the stat line. So the 62 goals and 94 points is not what I find impressive, it is the +44 in points from one year to the next and the -19 to a +15 is what catches my eye.

Still one year jumps don't tell you much, but 3 year rises absolutely tell you a tremendous amount.

For me the jury is still out. I believe a year in Albany will tell you a lot.

This. We need to see if he can put up goals at the next level up. I'm optimistic, his shot is just astonishing. Then the question becomes is the rest of his game good enough for the NHL. That's more of a question in my mind.

 

[Chessarmy]

Do you guys think Reid Boucher could be a top 6 NHL forward someday?

 

[Cowbell232]

I'm reaching a bit here, but his highest potential comparison model is Stephan Richer. I know that's saying a lot, but a bigger body with a silly shot...

Even if he's 75% of what Richer was, we have a great player ahead of us.

 

[New Jersey Devils]

I hope he doesn't develop a similar way to Pierre Dagenais. Had a lethal shot, and tore up the Q with 66 goals. The following 2 seasons with Albany he had 35 and 34 goal seasons. Bounced around the NHL and AHL througout his career. Last played in the FHL a few years ago.

Wow, look at this game I just found that he played in:

http://fhl_league.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=1876881

 

[Classic Devil]

I hope he doesn't develop a similar way to Pierre Dagenais. Had a lethal shot, and tore up the Q with 66 goals. The following 2 seasons with Albany he had 35 and 34 goal seasons. Bounced around the NHL and AHL througout his career. Last played in the FHL a few years ago.

Wow, look at this game I just found that he played in:

http://fhl_league.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=1876881

I was never as impressed by Dagenais' shot as I am by Boucher's. But it is a good cautionary tale.