Evan Bouchard vs. Noah Dobson (2022 Edition)

[PWJunior]

So which RHD is the better player now that they are both NHL regulars?

Click to read more...

 

[OilWagon]

Pretty clearly Dobson

 

[biturbo19]

Still Dobson. Same as on draft day. Same as i'm still mad they didn't take him over Quin Hughes.

 

[McMozesmadness]

Today, I'd take Dobson, he's who I wanted on draft day

With that said, Bouch has some nasty upside

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Last year I said it was close - Although I am
certain Bouchard is a great player it‘s Dobson here.

 

[Zeeker]

LOL at the one “neutral” Bouchard voter

 

[McJedi]

Dobson. It’s not close.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Bouchard is a liability in the NHL. He has some nice offensive tools but any positive those make are negated by him being walked every time he steps on the ice. He has a lot of growth needed because right now he is looking like Tyson Barrie 2.0

 

[Mrb1p]

Bouchard is a dumb hocney player and always was and always will be

 

[Xspyrit]

It has never been close

 

[Peasy]

I can't believe how many people slept on dobson durin his draft... Hes literally what teams dream of getting. A big mobile RHD.

 

[Korpse]

LOL at the one “neutral” Bouchard voter

Wasn't shocked at who the voter was tbh

 

[PWJunior]

Wasn't shocked at who the voter was tbh

That's why I made sure votes were visible...

 

[Regal]

Still Dobson. Same as on draft day. Same as i'm still mad they didn't take him over Quin Hughes.

Ooo, that’s a spicy one. I like it

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I take Dobson but Bouchard is being underrated here

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

Bouchard is a liability in the NHL. He has some nice offensive tools but any positive those make are negated by him being walked every time he steps on the ice. He has a lot of growth needed because right now he is looking like Tyson Barrie 2.0

He could get better? But ya, last time I watched close he did some nice offensive stuff and I said “oh cool, why do ppl rag on him?” Then play went the other way and I found out.

 

[biturbo19]

Ooo, that’s a spicy one. I like it

Took a minute to come around. Didn't look like a very good take for a while. Hughes made that immediate splash and Dobson has taken a bit of a time. But really, who would you rather have right now? I can't see many Isles fans being inclined to swap him for Hughes. He's showing pretty similar offensive upside, with more goal-scoring impact as part of that, and a much higher defensive "ceiling", as the sort of true "all situations #1D" that Hughes will never really be.


Picking between the two, no question i take the big rangy two-way RHD. As much as Hughes is a master in transition and Dobson may never be quite as good there, he has other limitations due to his size that are just never going to go away.

 

[HockeyVirus]

He could get better? But ya, last time I watched close he did some nice offensive stuff and I said “oh cool, why do ppl rag on him?” Then play went the other way and I found out.

Yeah I ranted because last nights game is fresh in my mind, but I would never say a 23 year old dman is a finished product. Just that if the goal is to have him play top 4 minutes for your contending team there is a significant step needed still.

 

[Mr Kot]

Bouchard shows flashes of brilliant play, but he still shows those raw mistakes. Hopefully he will iron those out. Dobson I would take again.

 

[Regal]

Took a minute to come around. Didn't look like a very good take for a while. Hughes made that immediate splash and Dobson has taken a bit of a time. But really, who would you rather have right now? I can't see many Isles fans being inclined to swap him for Hughes. He's showing pretty similar offensive upside, with more goal-scoring impact as part of that, and a much higher defensive "ceiling", as the sort of true "all situations #1D" that Hughes will never really be.


Picking between the two, no question i take the big rangy two-way RHD. As much as Hughes is a master in transition and Dobson may never be quite as good there, he has other limitations due to his size that are just never going to go away.

I think I’d like to see more of Hughes in a better situation and/or Dobson take on a bigger role before I’d agree. Dobson has the benefit of better team structure and the Pelech pairing in front of him, and what Hughes does well is pretty special if he can tighten up other areas and maybe get some lighter minutes, but it’s something worth considering. Off topic though I guess.

 

[FlameChampion]

I understand why the Oilers wanted Bouchard at the time. They needed an offensive RD who could run the power play for basically forever. He checked a lot of boxes.

The funny part is now the Oilers have had Barrie for a few years. Barrie and Bouchard kind of make each other redundant.

Oilers would of been better off picking Dobson ... especially now that they have Barrie ...

Dobson is pretty good offensively too though. Its not much of a gap between him and Bouchard. And Dobson is a much better defender.

Both guys are still really young though, which I think makes Dobson even more impressive.

 

[Dust]

I remember watching Dobson play in the Memorial Cup when it was here in Regina and he was one of the best players in that tournament. Bouchard has been fine but I felt like from my limited sample size it was a mistake at the time to take him over Dobson. Still lots of growth for both guys and I think people forget that this is really Bouchard's 2nd season in the NHL, he doesn't quite have the experience that Dobson does at this level.

 

[Thrasymachus]

I am biased, since I am an isles fan and admittedly dont catch a ton of Edmonton games.

Dobson is an absolute stud. Very happy with his development.

 

[PWJunior]

I remember watching Dobson play in the Memorial Cup when it was here in Regina and he was one of the best players in that tournament. Bouchard has been fine but I felt like from my limited sample size it was a mistake at the time to take him over Dobson. Still lots of growth for both guys and I think people forget that this is really Bouchard's 2nd season in the NHL, he doesn't quite have the experience that Dobson does at this level.

While Dobson has more NHL experience, Bouchard was a year ahead of development when both were drafted. Bouchard had 3 OHL seasons under his belt already when the Oilers took him, Dobson had 2 in the Q and was considered the project that would need more development.

Dobson has made considerable strides in his game, but all the elements of his game were evident in flashes. The concerning thing for me with Bouchard is that he is essentially the same player he was in the OHL and has not improved the weaknesses in his game.

 

[The Wahligator]

It's pretty clearly Dobson. Better in all aspects of the game. Bouchard is a good player though.