Lets get one thing straight ... none of Barrie or Bouchard or Ekholm "QB" our PP. McDavid and RNH and Draisaitl take turns QBing it with McDavid being the primary QB.
That's the reality.
The job of the point D is really to just cycle the puck from the right to left or vice versa so that McDavid/Drai/RNH can get a different look if need be and/or the cross seam pass is not available.
That's basically all. Any shot/goal from the point is just like gravy, that's it.
I think the playmaking aspect of playing that high point is underrated, you want that player contributing to increasing scoring pressure and that only happens if that player is a quick thinker and efficient decision maker. Klefbom was a very cerebral player there and distributed the puck efficiently. Barrie had his talents (on ice chemistry is a strong component here). Bouchard has natural abilities for both passing and shooting and can be patient and deliberate with the puck when needed.
Having a big shot can be a critical threat too when PKs really crowd the netfront, which we have run up against at times. Bouch can sift shots through, as could Barrie, but he can also unleash punishing bombs a la Klefbom that make defenders think twice about what theyre sticking in lanes, and break sticks and fingers when they do.
However I think the single most critical aspect for our PP sticking over 30% is the best-ever puck recapture and zone keeping. Almost every opportunity that doesnt result in a goal, save, or deflectiom out of play winds up being recycled quickly into another scoring chance or cycle. Anticipating the play and getting quickly to pucks is important, as well as quickly retrieving and breaking back out when the puck is cleared. Bouchard is one of the better D in the league at finding stretch passes when theyre available, and has many other talents that we have yet to see fully utilized on the PP. Chemistry is still at a nascent stage but he is already effective.
I dont believe just anyone can contribute in that position, and while a modestly capable player may be able to tread water just by moving pucks along as they come their way, we have seen guys struggle there (including Barrie when he first arrived) allowing way too many zone clears, bobbling pucks while last man back, and forcing opportunities that arent there when patience would have sufficed to create a good scoring threat.
Anyway, I think overall the PP can suffer if the player in that position is bad and can thrive possibly even beyond what we've seen if that player is excellent. We'll see what happens as chemistry and confidence continue to build for Bouchard. Would not at all be interested in taking a step backward to Broberg who at times struggles with the simplest aspects of the game.
