[Sandman]

RW Tyler Boucher,6'1"201lbs (USNTDP Juniors): 5gp/3g/2a/5pts,13PIM. Played in the USDP's U18 team, 12gp/6g/5a/11pts,22PIM, 6th in the program for p/gp, ahead of such players as Dylan Duke, Red Savage, Liam Gilmartin, and Andre Gasseau. He's the son of former NHL Goalie, and former Calgary Flame Brian Boucher. Tyler plays with flair, physicality, and speed. "Whether it be a player with his head down, someone in open-ice, or along the offensive or defensive glass, Boucher does not show any mercy. With this mindset such play tends to wear down the opposition and makes them always keep their heads on a swivel whenever Tyler is on the ice, which makes for frequent mistakes by them and more frequent opportunities for team USA"-Lance Green, Flyers Nitty Gritty

Bouch has a pro-caliber toolbox, and is a big, strong power-forward. Relentless puck-pursuit, and a sense of hunger when chasing down loose pucks-one of the facilitators of his goal-scoring ability. He keeps his feet moving, and has a non-stop motor. Powers to the net, applies pressure to puck-carriers, and makes his presence felt with huge hits. Strength, toughness, and take-no-prisoners physicality-highly aggressive and mean, and finishes hard. Some players are happy to get 2-3 hits in a game-Bouch often gets more than that in a shift. Strong on the puck, brings energy, and dominates along the wall, in the corners, and plants his feet in front of the net-making it hard to move him. Protects the puck well, and owns a strong, hard shot with accuracy and a quick release, that he can use to score from anywhere. Likes the net-front, and doesn't mind scoring garbage goals, or tip-ins. Surprising quickness, can separate from opponents in just a few strides-gains top-speed efficiently. There's power in his crossovers and edges. He can create off the rush, and often manufactures space in the offensive zone. Flashes high-end puck skill and stickhandling, and challenges opponents 1-on-1. He has soft enough hands to get the puck to teammates in high-danger-he can pass through traffic, but doesn't take unnecessary risks to force plays. He has shown the ability to carry in transition out of the defensive zone cleanly, and through the neutral zone with control.

Tyler shows a solid two-way game, but his consistency in this area is spotty-sometimes there's not the same urgency and effort on the backcheck as he shows in other areas of the game. He needs to develop better on-ice reads and vision in order to be able to see and analyze his options in using his teammates better, and his passing could be more consistently accurate. He's committed to Boston University, so he'll have plenty of time and resources to round out his game. He models his game after Tom Wilson, so as one can imagine, he needs work on his on-ice discipline-sometimes when going in for a hit, an elbow might "accidentally" come up, netting him a misconduct. He has a high floor IMO, as he can fulfill any role, on any line, providing energy and phyisicality, with a bit of scoring. LOVE this kid, one of my favorites in the draft. 2nd rounder all day.