Todd Cordell: Is Reid Boucher Ready For The NHL?

I don't think he'll make the team right out the gates, and I don't think he should, unless he bulked up this summer. He's either going to turn heads and get a call up or there will be an injury and well he is easily the first call up.

I don't think he's quite ready yet but hey look at Merrill. He didn't have much pro experience before jumping to the NHL so you never know.

Not strong enough yet.

Next year.

Not worried about his strength, I think he's plenty strong now. I'm just not sure he's entirely ready for the speed of the NHL game yet. At least not enough to produce at a high rate. He didn't look out of place, but he also didn't set the world on fire, either. I think he'll get around 30-40 games in this year as an injury call up. Hopefully he shows enough improvement from his rookie year for a spot to be left open for him next summer.

yea I think he'll have to wait another year. we'll have havlat, jagr, brunner, ryder and bernier all coming off the books. whether or not we resign one or two of them or other free agents is up for discussion but there should be room for both him and matteau next year

I think whether Matteau makes the team this year may be a better question.

I think he fits best as a 3rd liner once he's developed, so if he started the year on the 4th line I don't think the lack of minutes would be too much of a detriment to his development. If he plays well it will also create some competition within that bottom 6, which is always good.

To me it really depends on the following:

A) How many players get moved, B) How training camp goes and C) The extent of injuries as the year goes on.

After the time he spent last year with the big club, I am sure he has worked on his speed and physical conditioning, he looks to be in better shape than last year from Rookie camp footage and interviews.

I do totally agree that he should not be called up unless it is the right time and the best option to do so. I am pretty sure Reid is going to be a great asset to the Devils for years to come.

He should be an allstar with that Corsi.

I sure hope he is ready. Team needs to get younger in all areas. We have done a good job of it on D and in net just still way too old up front though. But the good thing is we have plenty of forwards so if Boucher isn't ready it's not a big deal. We can be patient with him.

He should be an allstar with that Corsi.
- rangerdanger94

Yeah Trolls.

1 more year in the minors and he'll be good to go.. and the timing will be perfect. He had last year to adjust and learn, this year he'll sharpen and polish and hopefully be a top tier player in the AHL. Both years he's hopefully put on a few pounds of muscle. Another year can't hurt him.

This is the guy we've been waiting for. I feel he ought to make it out of camp and be given every opportunity to make his future with the team. Is he 1st line material? Probably not yet. But he is exactly what we need on the walls on the 2nd and 3rd line, time to embrace the change of moving older players on and let some new blood trickle in. Maybe flip Ryder, drop Jagr next year, Same with Elias, and run for a good draft pick. This guy can be a nucleus to make us go where we need to.

This is the guy we've been waiting for. I feel he ought to make it out of camp and be given every opportunity to make his future with the team. Is he 1st line material? Probably not yet. But he is exactly what we need on the walls on the 2nd and 3rd line, time to embrace the change of moving older players on and let some new blood trickle in. Maybe flip Ryder, drop Jagr next year, Same with Elias, and run for a good draft pick. This guy can be a nucleus to make us go where we need to.
- jackzack87

Forget to log into your devils account?

This is the guy we've been waiting for. I feel he ought to make it out of camp and be given every opportunity to make his future with the team. Is he 1st line material? Probably not yet. But he is exactly what we need on the walls on the 2nd and 3rd line, time to embrace the change of moving older players on and let some new blood trickle in. Maybe flip Ryder, drop Jagr next year, Same with Elias, and run for a good draft pick. This guy can be a nucleus to make us go where we need to.
- jackzack87

gotta be drunk and/or being sarcastic. No way we drop Elias next year, and if Jagr is as good this year as he was last year, i see no need to drop him either. Boucher is what we need on the walls? he's not very big or strong. He's not "the answer", he's not Marty St. Louis, he's surly not Elias. He's a kid that scored a lot of goals in the OHL. I really don't think Boucher is going to be the nucleus to take us to the promised land, but I could be wrong, or sober.

gotta be drunk and/or being sarcastic. No way we drop Elias next year, and if Jagr is as good this year as he was last year, i see no need to drop him either. Boucher is what we need on the walls? he's not very big or strong. He's not "the answer", he's not Marty St. Louis, he's surly not Elias. He's a kid that scored a lot of goals in the OHL. I really don't think Boucher is going to be the nucleus to take us to the promised land, but I could be wrong, or sober.
- MartysBetter88

I see him sort of like a Gionta(Brian) type, with a better shot and worse skater. So basically not like Gionta at all, but the guy is a finisher plain and simple. If he gets his stride in the NHL I could see him as a guy who is a 30 goal guy who might hit 40 at some point in his career. His skating will definitely be the thing that holds him back from being a star

I see him sort of like a Gionta(Brian) type, with a better shot and worse skater. So basically not like Gionta at all, but the guy is a finisher plain and simple. If he gets his stride in the NHL I could see him as a guy who is a 30 goal guy who might hit 40 at some point in his career. His skating will definitely be the thing that holds him back from being a star
- bobert836

Sykora is what you were going for there

gotta be drunk and/or being sarcastic. No way we drop Elias next year, and if Jagr is as good this year as he was last year, i see no need to drop him either. Boucher is what we need on the walls? he's not very big or strong. He's not "the answer", he's not Marty St. Louis, he's surly not Elias. He's a kid that scored a lot of goals in the OHL. I really don't think Boucher is going to be the nucleus to take us to the promised land, but I could be wrong, or sober.
- MartysBetter88

Have I upset someone? I'm contributing and counting the young man as a valuable piece to learn the game on a 3rd/2nd wing role. He's not MSL - I see him as valuable young blood. Part of a new core. Youth. Speed. You seem to need to contradict just for the sake of it, my friend.

Dream your dreams of Jagr and Elias leading this team into their twilight years, NJ is not Detroit. They lack the management and coaching to compete at that level. They will learn the lesson in the next couple years and make the shift to youth though, mark my words.

This is the guy we've been waiting for. I feel he ought to make it out of camp and be given every opportunity to make his future with the team. Is he 1st line material? Probably not yet. But he is exactly what we need on the walls on the 2nd and 3rd line, time to embrace the change of moving older players on and let some new blood trickle in. Maybe flip Ryder, drop Jagr next year, Same with Elias, and run for a good draft pick. This guy can be a nucleus to make us go where we need to.
- jackzack87

?

I'd personally start him like 20 games or so in AHL to build him up to speed. He posted decent numbers for his short stint but I'm sure they were protected minutes.

At this point in his career I think that Boucher will be the perfect call up forward. He will probably get around 30-50 games in this season when someone is injured and he'll spend the majority of the rest of his time in the AHL player 20+ minutes per night. I think that he will be 100% ready for the 2015-16 season.

Sykora is what you were going for there
- shvingter88

Oh ya. I often forget he was a devil for any extended period

Have I upset someone? I'm contributing and counting the young man as a valuable piece to learn the game on a 3rd/2nd wing role. He's not MSL - I see him as valuable young blood. Part of a new core. Youth. Speed. You seem to need to contradict just for the sake of it, my friend.

Dream your dreams of Jagr and Elias leading this team into their twilight years, NJ is not Detroit. They lack the management and coaching to compete at that level. They will learn the lesson in the next couple years and make the shift to youth though, mark my words.
- jackzack87

oh relax lol. No one's upset, I just think your idea of Boucher being "the answer" is far-fetched. 2nd/3rd line kid is far from what would call being the answer. That's the point I'm addressing. And if Jagr is a 60 point player this year, what reason do you have to not want him back? same with Elias. They're not hurting anyone, but are 2 of the best forwards we have at making their line-mates better.
Ryder, Brunner, Havlat, Bernier will all be gone. Including them, one of Zubrus or Ruutu may be traded this year. There will be plenty of room for Matteau and Boucher. Jagr may be gone anyway. If he isn't..

Cammalleri-Zajac-OPEN
Henrique-Elias-OPEN
Clowe-Josefson-Ruutu/Zubrus/OPEN
OPEN-Gionta-OPEN

so, 4/5 open spots to be filled with Zubrus, Ruutu, Matteau, Boucher, and possibly Jagr. So there you go. Perfect fit. Hopefully Lou will trade one of those 2 guys, and make another nice UFA pickup, because honestly this is a weak lineup, especially with an even older Elias and Jagr. THIS is why I was for signing Cammalleri, and even another piece, because the better players are leaving and we'll be wanting. Who do we have in '15? Cammalleri, Zajac, and Henrique. That's literally it. And some thought signing Cam would mean the end of a possible rebuild. I don't think Lou will rebuild, I think he'll sign someone.. but this is not a strong lineup in 2015.

Cammalleri-Zajac-Jagr
Henrique-Elias-Boucher (or Elias on the wing..)
Clowe-Josefson-Ruutu/Zubrus/Matteau
Zubrus/Ruutu/Matteau-Gionta-Ruutu/Zubrus/Matteau

Sykora is what you were going for there
- shvingter88

I thought he had some speed in his A-Line days. Maybe I'm having illusions of grandeur.

I find it interesting that so many people are concerned with his skating ability. Quite honestly, NJ unfortunately still has one of the slowest teams in the league with Jagr, Clowe, Zubrus and guys like that lugging themselves down ice. It may not be long before Elias loses a step as well. Hopefully Havlat still has some legs coming off a severe hip injury....can't be sure.

Speed is clearly not an asset right now, so I don't know whether his skating ability would even effect the team positively if it were where it needed to be. The Devils are very much a zone to zone team with their forwards.

They're going to have to count on their young defenseman to make the plays to open things up.

I'm still more concerned with his strength on the boards and his ability to consistently compete for the puck.