I would love it if he become the next St. Louis, I'm sure everyone would, but I just don't see it. I think he'll flirt with the 2nd line a little in his career, but stay a great no.3 liner IMO.
I've not watched him much this year with the Bolts but I see a fair bit of Tom Pyatt about Bourque. He showed the defensive and hustling side of his game in Montreal but didn't really click offensively with us. In Tampa, he seems to have re-discovered some of his scoring touch. Assuming he is still bringing those two way abilities with Tampa, I see Bourque being a bit like Pyatt but with a bit better puck skills and higher points as of now with offensive improvement in future years. Bourque seems a little more willing to play the body too. They are both quick skaters without imposing size or strength who can play on both sides of the puck (Pyatt may be a little better defensively, at least for now) who can provide secondary scoring.
But that is just based off watching him play about 25 NHL games and without having seen him at any other level.
Considering you got the better of us in the AK trade, I'm sure you guys wouldn't object to a nice, friendly little gesture like trading your Bourque for ours. If anyone is uncertain about that, have a think about it after drinking lots of alcohol and experimenting with some mind bending drugs. But then we'd have a deal, right?
I love GB, but he doesn't have close to the skill of MSL.
Cripsy compared him to Orzagh recently. I see some similarity, but I think he has a bit higher ceiling than that. Somewhere between Orzagh and Eric Cole, IMO.
I'm not real good at comparing players to others not on our team because different players in different systems breed different results. I don't really know what his ceiling could be but I think the bottom line is if he could be a good 2nd line wing in his time with us, we would all be absolutely ecstatic.
become a Preds fan ? :p ... Seriously though, I love this kids hustle, skill & willingness to shoot the puck at the right time (allowing screens to develop)
I could see him developing into a 20 goal scorer, sure. Good wheels, works hard, plays smart, good enough with the puck to make things happen on his own.
I was really upbeat about Bourque after the way he finished 2010-11 in Milwaukee, and he hasn't disappointed. Funny, IIRC, Poile was hoping for another Scott Nichol or Jordin Tootoo when he drafted Bourque...
I think Borque could become a Legwand level player. (Not a comparison of style, just ability). I think he will be a 2nd/3rd line guy that has wheels (i.e. Legwand), though I do see him having a bit more offensive flair and a bit less defensive prowess.
