Out of curiosity, having not watched the game where was it that Chabot thrived? Just the PP, or was he good at ES too? Was he playing well in the D zone, or just the OZ?
His possession numbers are surprisingly low (2nd lowest on the team and lowest among D), and scoring chance data is no better. I know better than to rely on that without the eye test to back it up. Was he playing high pace back and forth, or deliberate low event? Was he on the right side mostly or the left (He seems to have mostly played with Claesson and Phaneuf, and a little with Ceci, so I'm guessing mostly on the right side)
Boucher had him playing both sides at different times. His goal was a one-timer from his offside where he basicallly demanded Ryan give him the pick. Really confident move from a rookie.
1 pp assist was a one-timer from his offside, the other was a point shot that missed the net from the left side of the point. He should/will be the guy dictating the play from the left side/middle of the rink on the PP, but he's making it work with the role he's being given.
It's the simple things he's doing that none of our other D can or will do. He's getting pucks through to the net, he's actually moving in the offensive zone rather than staying static in his spot and passing off to someone. Right now he's our best skating D with Karlssons obvious injury.
Whether or not Boucher can "trust" a 20year old in situations shouldn't be relevant right now. Even if he was a complete tire fire in other aspects of the game (which he isn't, far from) he needs to be dressed and given major minutes. He is the best PP option on the team, including forwards, and he offers offence and skating that no one outside of Karlsson can. Leaving him out of the lineup for a guy who "may" make less mistakes while providing 0 offenders is handicapping you from the start, which has been the case every game we have had any of Claesson/Harpur/Oduya/Boro/Wideman in over him.