With the Flyers back on the clock in the second round, general manager Chuck Fletcher should still be on the hunt for some much-needed physicality! Whose name might he call? Well one kid (who is very familiar with the Flyers organization) who plays that gritty style of game is Haddonfield, New Jersey native Tyler Boucher of the US National Team.
That’s right: Tyler is the son of former Flyers goaltender Brian Boucher. He grew up in the Flyers’ locker room and played around on the Flyers’ ice before his dad’s practices most days. He even developed his skills locally while playing as a member of the Little Flyers (junior hockey team) before shipping off to the famous Avon Old Farms Prep School in Connecticut where he was then coached by his father for three seasons before heading off to try and make the US National Team. But the Flyers picking Tyler would not be just some sort of thank you for your services to Brain Boucher for all his years manning the net in Philly; On the contrary: Tyler is perhaps one of the most aggressive players available in this year’s draft class, which is exactly what this docile team needs right now.
At just 18 years old Boucher is already 6’1 and 201 pounds. By combining this with his frame he tends to enjoy simply annihilating anyone in sight. To put this into perspective, while some of the best hitters on the Flyers’ roster currently may see a total 2 to 3 checks credited to them at the end of a game, Tyler has often tallied more than that in a single shift this season while playing for the United States National Team Development Program!
Boucher is simply exciting to watch! Every time he enters the ice you can be sure that his feet will not stop moving until he reaches the bench again; and with a motor like that you know that he will absolutely level someone each and every time out on the ice. Whether it be a player with their head down, someone in the 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.
This is not the only part of the game that Boucher excels at though. Once moved to team USA’s U18 club this year, Tyler’s relentless pursuit of the puck has allowed him to net 6 goals and 4 assists for 10 points in 10 games played. A point per game average. Not bad for a bruising checking line player, eh?
Once drafted, Tyler is already committed to attend the renowned Boston University, the organization that recently helped to groom the Flyers’ winger Joel Farabee, and currently is still developing Flyers 1st round pick Jay O’Brien’s game for us right now.
If Philadelphia were to select Tyler Boucher with their 2nd round pick the Wells Fargo Center would once again be filled with the chants of BOUCH!!!! But this time not occurring after a big save, but after a massive check! The Flyers could anticipate the grit and toughness he brings on a nightly basis to one day joining their lineup that currently lacks that style of play. They would be getting a player who gives it his all each and every shift out on the ice- one that exemplifies what it used to mean to be a Flyer while at the same time bringing the ability to add some much-needed scoring depth as well. This is why the Flyers should not consider the possible acquisition of Tyler Boucher a want but rather a NEED to fill the void in the Flyers’ lineup left behind by so many greats before him.
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