Bouchard was the Islanders' biggest free agent addition this offseason and could be rewarded with a spot on the top-line with John Tavares and Matt Moulson. Bouchard has always been a player who looks like he should perform better than he actually does. He has also had injury problems (concussion) that have kept him off the ice for a considerable amount of time. Bottom line, he may get first crack at playing with John Tavares, but if he doesn't perform well in camp or in the early season, the Isles aren't invested in him enough to keep him there.
How do you spell f-r-a-g-i-l-e? We spell it Pierre-Marc Bouchard. He's sublimely skilled -- great hands, shifty on his skates and a great passer. But he's also -- quite literally -- a hit away from forced retirement. He has had far too many concussions in his young career, and each time, the recovery seems less and less likely. He's coming off another, and while he should be ready for camp, we're more than a little leery. He's the poster child for risk-reward -- only you know if you can stomach that risk.
Bouchard played well last season, as he accumulated 38 points (12 G, 26 A) after his 2009-10 campaign was derailed by concussions and limited him to just one game. The trouble with PM aside from his recent injury history is that he is not an impact player on the man advantage, nor has he been on the right side of the plus/minus since his career year in 2007-08, when he went plus-11 and notched 50 assists. Bouchard has surprised us before, but there will be safer options at the forward position in fantasy land.
Bouchard seemed poised for a breakout season with the move to an offensive-minded coach, but he basically missed all of last season after a concussion at the start of the season. He finally began to start working out this summer and got cleared for full workouts just before training camp started. It looks like he'll play in 2010-11, but it's not clear when he'll return or if he'll regain his prior form. Bouchard had strong passing skills and was a key player on the power play. He has upside if healthy, but his career remains uncertain.
Bouchard missed 11 games due to injury, but still posted 46 points, 16 of which came on the power play. In a more offensive scheme, everybody on the Wild has a chance to improve their scoring, and given his talent Bouchard could be one of the biggest benefactors of the end of the Jacques Lemaire era.
To compensate for a diminutive 5-foot-10 frame, Bouchard has proven to be an excellent puck passer - his 50 assists in 2007-08 were the most recorded by a Wild player in the team's nine-year history. Remember, he is just 24-years-old and should be pleased with his new contract worth $20.4 million over five years. There are even better fantasy options at forward but Bouchard is usually a safe bet to log around 60 points.
Bouchard is a breakout candidate this season after scoring 57 points in 82 games. The 2002 first-round pick is just 23 and the scoring talent around him continues to improve. A season of 80 points is possible if Minnesota opens up the offense a bit more.
Minnesota's 2002 first-round draft pick came on strong late last year with 15 points in his last 17 games and should be a sleeper for next season.
Minnesota's 2002 first-round draft pick took a step back in 2003-04 after suffering from a thumb injury and getting stuck in Minnesota's offensive woes. He's just 21 years old and gets time on the power play, so don't give up him just yet.
