Rookie Experience: Pressure - Pierre Marc Bouchard

[Gaikoku-hito 2,081]

 

Pressure!! That is what I think about when I look at Pierre Marc Bouchard after being draft higher than expected into the VHLM at 2^nd overall to the Halifax 21^st; Bouchard did the eight mile walk a shame and choked as he was unable to dominate as most expected he would in the VHLM trying to raise his draft stock. While he didn`t hurt his draft stock; he also didn`t really help it!

 

 

Then came the surprise of being drafted 1^st overall into the VHLE by Bratislava Watchmen but this time Bouchard actually went off and actually worked hard on this game between the seasons and came back with an unseen offensive ability compared to his VHLM days but down the stretch he has started to show signs of pressure getting to him as his scoring pace slowed dramaticily from the sixty goal pace and one hundred thirty point pace to where he finished just over forty goals and just over one hundred points. Not giving a ton of confindence considering his team also dropped to thrid in the standings and now face an uphill battle in the playoffs.

 

Riga Reign drafted the young Finnish player 3rd overall and a bit higher than most expected or even projected but in the short term that Pierre Marc Bouchard with Riga, he must not left a good impression as he was trade rather unexpectedly to Vancouver Wolves. Is this a sign that Riga had no faith in the Bouchard or simply a team really wanting the player?

 

Eitherway, Pierre Marc Bouchard once again comes to a end of a season stumbling; which is not a good sign for the future.

 

So what is next for the VHL prospect? Well, Of course he can put a lot of doubts bed if he can have a strong VHLE playoff but once again Bouchard is going to head into an offseason needing to re-work his game. What are the expectations for Bouchard next season as Rookie now with the Vanocuver Wolves? That is really to be determined by the player himself but I think he will be hoping to have his name in the conversation for the Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy as the top rookie but for him to win the trophy might be a bit of reach when comparing him to his much better class mates in Jillian Woods, Maverick Goncalves and Felicia Hardy; who should have gone one, two and three in the draft. Bouchard will have his work cut out for him to even be mentioned with this group by season end if he continue to have a hot start to a season only to faulter down the stretch.

 

From a Vancouver Wolves stand point the team will likely try to insulate him on the second line with him line-up most likely on the wings to start his VHL career as he just doesn`t look ready to center a line and will need to develop that aspect of his game further. Depending on his linemate; I guess a point per game pace might be within reach for the rookie but I would taper my expecations and expect more a half a point per game player so somewhere in the forty point range rather than seventy point range that would be required to be consider a top three rookie next season.

 

It now time to put the work in this offseason, if this player is going to set the foundation of a future star in the VHL or simple just be a good forward like his Grandfather before him. What Bouchard are we going to see next season the dominate one that started the VHLE this season or the bigger sample sized one of the VHLM and the second half of the VHLE season? It might be simple fact that Vancouver fans have high hopes and the pressure simple might get to this rookie. It will be an interesting rookie season one way or another.

 

Edited July 5 by Gaikoku-hito

[Lemorse7 1,014]

17 hours ago, Gaikoku-hito said:

Is this a sign that Riga had no faith in the Bouchard or simply a team really wanting the player?