With three points in 17 NCAA games and 14 in 24 OHL games, Tyler Boucher’s scoring would be concerning for the 110th-overall pick, let alone the 10th pick, which is where the Ottawa Senators selected him in 2021.  

Players who score like that typically don’t make the NHL. It’s also true that he brings a different combination of skills than most players. Still, it’s tough to overlook the ugly stat-line.

Watching Boucher, the son of former NHL goalie and current ESPN/ABC analyst Brian Boucher, paints a somewhat more optimistic picture. For one, it’s clear that he’s earned a better fate. But the optimism mostly comes from Boucher’s skill set. 

At his best, he’s a toolsy, creative offensive threat who also happens to hit everything that moves. With projectable NHL tools across the board, like skating, shooting, passing and puckhandling, he’s not short on upside.

However, Boucher is short on execution, as poor play selection and other factors limit his opportunities to use his best offensive skills. We’ll get to those, but first, let’s talk about how he’s improved this year.