We continue our series of looking into potential players Los Angeles could be targeting in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. As is evident in this series so far, prospects come in all shapes and sizes, have different backgrounds and styles of play, and, most notably, varying paths that have brought them to this point.
When looking at Canadian players, the most common route they follow leading up to the draft is playing in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) – it’s a combination of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Players in North America get drafted based on their region: those in the west get drafted in the WHL, central region goes to OHL, and eastern goes to QMJHL.
There’s also the CHL Import Draft, in which all teams can draft players out of Europe. For the purpose of this discussion though, that is not relevant.
Players sometimes choose not to go that route. Specifically, playing major junior hockey makes a player ineligible to play in the NCAA. To act as a bridge for players not quite ready for college hockey, they may participate in the United States Hockey League (USHL). This is the route projected first overall pick, Macklin Celebrini, took. He played for the Chicago Steel last season before playing for Boston University this year.
Obviously, the Kings aren’t going to be picking first, but let’s take a look at another player who also took this path.
Sacha Boisvert
Vitals
Date of Birth: March 17, 2006
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 179 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Center
2023-24 Season
Boisvert spent the entirety of 2023-24 playing for the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks. In 61 games, he had 68 points (36 G, 32 A).
Double Denial
The introductory paragraph probably serves as a bit of a spoiler, but Boisvert committed to University of North Dakota back in August 2022. Earlier in the same year, he also committed to Muskegon. It wasn’t from lack of options, though. The native of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, was drafted twice in the QMJHL Entry Draft in consecutive seasons by two different teams (Chicoutimi in 2022 and Shawinigan in 2023).
Keeping it Local
Generally, higher-ranked prospects have a broad range of international experience and tournaments where they get more eyes on them. With Boisvert, the exposure has been limited. The rugged center’s only viewings for the rest of the world was when he played for Canada Red in the U-17 World Hockey Challenge.
Combine the Tests
Boisvert was an attendee at the Combine, and he stood out in physical fitness testing with the following numbers:
Wing Span (inches): 77.75 (17th)
Force Plate: Squat Jump (inches): 17.19 (12th)
Left Hand Grip (lbs): 163 (4th)
Right Hand Grip (lbs): 155 (13th)
Horizontal Jump (inches): 110 (17th)
Rankings by Independent Scouting Services
Ranked N0. 31 by North American Independant Scouting, they see Boisvert as somebody who can both score and distribute the puck. “There’s “so much to like about his game,” was coupled with an admission that he “might be too low” on their list.
Ranked No. 21 by Elite Prospects. “Sacha Boisvert can do everything: Score from distance, score in tight, set up chances, throw thunderous hits, and shut down the opposition. It’s that well-roundedness that kept himself inside our
top-25 nearly the entire draft cycle.”
Ranked No 18 by Draft Pro. “You can describe him more as a shooter than a playmaker, but don’t underestimate his ability to execute high-level plays, whether navigating through traffic or initiating rushes. He keeps opponents guessing, continuously adjusting his speed and tempo, and reading and reacting off the opposition. His dynamic style combines power and speed, making him a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the ice. His aggressive forechecking style puts pressure on opponents, showcasing his relentless pursuit of the puck. Despite some imperfections in his skating mechanics, he compensates with impressive speed, acceleration, and elusive puck control, making him challenging to defend against.”
Ranked No. 28 by McKeen’s Hockey. “He plays a very simple, calm game. He shows off some impressive intelligence, rarely making a mistake and regularly driving play forward. He’s competitive, fighting hard for pucks and jumping into battles often to help win the puck back for his team. While not his strongest trait, he handles the puck well in space or under pressure. He has the talent to slow the play down and go at his own pace, but he can also fill in a supporting role when the time calls for it.”
See For Yourself
Here is video of Boisvert playing against Team USA:
Final Comments
One of the most impressive aspects of Boisvert is something that can’t be seen in the stats or on the ice. He has a very good level of self-awareness as far as knowing his path, which is why we wanted to start with varying routes. During the combine, he answered media questions about varying topics, most notably why he didn’t go to the QMJHL. He felt that he is the type of player who needs more time to develop his game, and college hockey gives him more of an opportunity to do so. It’s very impressive that he chose not to take shortcuts to playing pro, nor that he feels he’s immediately ready to play professional hockey. The entire interview is below:
Also, what’s very nice about the above interview is he said he tries to emulate his game after Kopitar. It’s quite a goal for certain. How much do they match?
At the moment, there’s still quite a gap to their games, and that’s not necessarily a knock against him. Boisvert leverages harder hits against the opposition, whereas the Kings captain tries to smother on the forecheck. The rugged center acts more like a hammer. Moreover, the prospect shows more willingness to take a shot, even if it’s less likely to score. Defensively, Kopitar provides better support for the defense as a breakout option and along the boards, whereas Boisvert will either stay in the slot or play higher up. This doesn’t make him an inferior player – there’s just more nuance to the veteran NHLer’s game than what would be expected out of a teenager. There’s nothing wrong with trying to emulate a future Hall of Famer though.
The big draw is potential for his game. He put up good numbers despite not showing high levels of physical fitness (judging by the Combine results). A famous Kings callback is back when Tyler Toffoli was drafted, and he couldn’t even do a pullup. Of course, this isn’t to say that Boisvert would have the same trajectory. More so that it can almost work in favor of a player, because scouts are left thinking “what if he’s stronger?”
Along with building strength, which is normal for younger players, the 6-foot-2 forward needs to improve his skating. While Kopitar doesn’t have blazing speed, his speed and agility still gets him to varying points in the zone within three seconds. Boisvert’s first-step quickness and acceleration are both below average, so he needs to rely on momentum to get in position in a timely manner to make a defensive play. On the attack, this also acts as a limitation when trying to lead or join the rush.
With all that said, his biggest weaknesses are usually the easiest to correct. Especially with his commitment to NCAA hockey, they only play two games on average per week. This gives more time to hit the weight room and to practice individual skills, such as skating. Boisvert has good vision, and his willingness to take a hit adds dimensions to his playmaking, given he can draw defenders closer to him before dishing the puck.
His self-awareness and competitiveness is an enticing package. Other scouts have likened him to Brock Nelson and Brayden Schenn, two very good gritty power forwards. While we prefer to avoid stylistic comparisons (the Kopitar example shows why nuance is such a big contributor to this), we do recognize the discussion can help describe a general approach to the game. Of course, this should always come with the caveat that this is not a career trajectory. Every player’s path is their own.
With where independent scouting services rank the Muskegon center, he falls right into the wheelhouse of the Kings picking at No. 21. Given that teams can never have too much skill or grit, his healthy combination of both would be a great fit.
Chat with David: You can find him on Twitter @Davidenkness to talk more hockey.
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