Next up on our board is Sacha Boisvert, a Canadian center prospect that’s consistently had a mid-to-late first round grade in most draft rankings. Slotting in at 6-foot-2 and 179 pounds, and with a good combination of NHL grade tools, it’s quite easy to project an NHL frame on Boisvert as he develops and adds some more muscle.
An incredibly fun thing about Boisvert is his affinity for the boxing ring. He’s spent his entire life in and out of the boxing ring as a main form of training, going to his father’s premier boxing and taekwondo gym in Quebec as a kid. How does that translate onto the ice? Well, Boisvert found his way into 6 fights this past season with the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks – a somewhat rare attribute for a prospect of his caliber.
There’s obviously way much more to the game of hockey than physicality – but considering his frame, his willingness to jump into the fire, and his set of NHL tools that we have yet to discuss – it’s no wonder why scouts have him being selected in the first round. There’s plenty of work to be done on Boisvert, but it’s not really hard to see the path to a good NHL contributor here. Let’s get into it.
Pre-draft rankings
No. 24 by The Athletic (Scott Wheeler)
No. 21 by Elite Prospects
No. 21 by TSN (Bob McKenzie)
No. 23 by Daily Faceoff
Statistics
What’s there to like?
Boisvert has a plethora of skills in his toolbox, but perhaps none more NHL-ready than his shot. With 36 goals on the season with Muskegon, good for fifth in the USHL, Boisvert has a quick release that routinely fools goaltenders. A point where his shot shines? The power play, where Boisvert has the ability to deposit goals from beyond the dots.
At the center position, Boisvert was routinely saddled with first-line responsibilities and there was an emphasis on improving his two-way play with Muskegon. Continually given the toughest minutes, Boisvert was consistently relied upon for his defensive prowess, and his ability to spring the rush the other way. Known as a goalscoring center, the vast majority of his passing skills seem to come from the rush, with a few assists coming on the man advantage as well.
There’s also the aforementioned physicality that Boisvert plays with, an attribute that hockey men are sure to love. It’s an attribute, combined with his NHL-ready shot and sound defensive work, that could entrench Boisvert in the middle-six of a lineup for years. It’s not that he’s ever really looking for a fight, but Boisvert is one of the first guys to jump over the boards to defend his teammate. Chances are that some teams fall in love with this aspect of Boisvert’s game, and project him as a guy that every team would be dying to have on their second or third lines.
What’s not to like?
It can be like beating a dead horse at this time in the draft: With mid-to late first round picks, swinging for the fences on upside versus going with the safer pick with the higher NHL floor is always the dilemma. WIth Boisvert, as was the case with Igor Chernyshov and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, I’m not sure if there is a top of the lineup talent here, even if Boisvert hits his potential. If you squint, you might be able to see 2C potential here, but some scouts also question if Boisvert’s long-term fit is down the middle.
Boisvert’s potential future move to wing is predicated on a few key weaknesses in his game. Some scouts question his vision on the ice, where Boisvert will struggle to see the best play and struggle to adjust on the fly when the original play doesn’t work out. He’s also got a plus NHL shot, and is seen as more of a goalscoring center rather than a playmaker, a pretty rare center type in the NHL. Those guys are incredibly valuable in the modern NHL game, but they are also rare for a reason. It’s hard to pull that skill set off in a high-end capacity at center, considering all the other responsibilities a center has. Boisvert wants to stay at center, but it’s possible an NHL team sees a more maximized Boisvert on the wing in the NHL.
Considering the strength of his shot and Boisvert’s all-around game, the final thing that might hold him back is his skating. There’s a lack of consensus around Boisvert’s skating, but it’s certainly not an explosive stride. He’s got enough in his toolbox to overcome average to just below average skating, but this is something to monitor with Boisvert’s development.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Regardless of the Flyers’ system, the Flyers could sorely use center depth in their system. They know it, we know it, everyone knows it. They don’t have a single guy in their system that has the potential that Boisvert has at the center position, so in that vein, Boisvert is a fit.
Systematically, I also quite like the idea of Boisvert for the Flyers. With Boisvert, his strengths as a passer are maximized in rush situations, a noted strength of the Tortorella system. He could slot in nicely in that regard, and we know how the Flyers preach a two-way mindset in all of their players. And, the physical aspect of Boisvert is something that would greatly endear himself to the hockey culture of Philadelphia. I could see it stylistically, but I’m not sure he’d fall to where the Flyers would select him with the Florida pick.
Could the Flyers actually get him?
At 12, Boisvert would definitely be a big reach for a player that’s not quite in the first tier of the draft. But, if somehow he was there at 31 or 32 with the Florida pick, Boisvert would be a solid, projectable choice for the Flyers. I just doubt he gets that far into the first round, and some team in the late teens or early twenties will take a bet on Boisvert’s tools.
What scouts are saying
“Boisvert’s got desired height and position on his side, room to fill out his once-wiry frame (which he already added a bunch of muscle to last summer; he still looks lean with further growth to come), and NHL skill and competitiveness. Intangibles come up a lot when you speak to people about him (he even dropped the gloves a few times this year, including in the playoffs). The skill includes a quick and accurate NHL-level release, good instincts on and off the puck, above-average feet (he’s a decent skater, even if a little upright in his stance), a developing power game and great feel with the puck on his stick both at speed and in slowing the game down (though a high grip and long stick can occasionally limit him with the puck so far out in front of his body). Add in his impressive work ethic and a two-way commitment and there’s a lot to like. He’s got to put some more weight on and improve in the faceoff circle (which will come with more strength) but there’s a projectable game there with the right development/refinement and I’m confident the staff at North Dakota will do a good job with him. He’s got middle-six upside and there was some top-15 chatter about him late in the year, but after struggling to be a game-changer in tighter playoff games, I wonder if that has softened.”
Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
“For now, Boisvert is a bit of a raw talent. He looks like a centre as currently constructed, but you never know these days; centres in junior often become wingers in the NHL. He’s put on the weight to survive at the position in the NHL – Boisvert is at 180 pounds as of this writing – and he’s got the skill for it, but his skating may keep him from sticking there.”
“Boisvert is quite the case study. There’s little denying how easy it is to see Boisvert play an NHL role. He’s got the size, IQ and shot to be an NHL center to some capacity. There are amazing moments of skill too, Boisvert loves to abuse his long reach and will make nice slip passes, or booming cuts to get his shot off. Those moments are great and if they’re enough to convince one of Boisvert’s upside, that’d be fair. There are just as many moments where Boisvert can leave you wanting. This player that is being laid out: the big, skilled, intelligent center with serious offensive skill should look more active then Boisvert is. That lack of “oomph” or dynamism keeps Boisvert away from the “top-6” center upside he should be garnering but we still believe he could be a very good matchup-focused middle 6 centerman and at his current range, that’s a very respectable pick to make, but you can’t help but wonder how much more might be beneath the surface.”
Welcome to the poll…
A former top-of-the-draft prospect from early on in this draft cycle, Finnish defenseman Aron Kiviharju!
“Puck-moving and transition play have always been Kiviharju’s No. 1 strength. At his best, he’s arguably the most deceptive breakout artist in the draft who gives constant false information to opponents through his eyes and body orientation and always uses the middle lane when possible. He plays a calculated style where he facilitates others and commands the game from the backend while not taking unnecessary risks himself. His passing skill on breakouts also extends to his ability to run a power play from the point.
“While Kiviharju is highly intelligent, it’s become evident over the recent years that the physical limitations are greater than initially thought. He can still be shifty on his edges, but a lack of quickness and separation speed have affected his retrievals, offensive effectiveness, and even his transition play, especially when playing against men.”
Previously on the draft board:
- Macklin Celebrini
- Ivan Demidov
- Artyom Levshunov
- Anton Silayev
- Cayden Lindstrom
- Sam Dickinson
- Zeev Buium
- Berkly Catton
- Zayne Parekh
- Konsta Helenius
- Tij Iginla
- Cole Eiserman
- Carter Yakemchuk
- Adam Jiricek
- Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
- Beckett Sennecke
- Liam Greentree
- Igor Chernyshov
- Sacha Boisvert
- ???
