Is draft prospect Sacha Boisvert a fit for the Calgary Flames prospect pool?
4 months ago
Each day, the Calgary Flames’ playoff chances are getting slimmer and slimmer, as they now sit eight points out of a playoff position.
Their chances weren’t helped by the work at and around the trade deadline, as they moved Elias Lindholm on the final day of January, and two second-pairing defenders in Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin. In turn, they received draft picks, a rebuilding team’s ticket to the promised land.
While the Flames’ playoff hopes are all but gone, it’s still imperative to look at the standings as it’ll determine where they’ll pick in the 2024 draft. They have the 11th-fewest points in the league this season and are tied with the Buffalo Sabres, who also have 71 points. Since the 2021 draft, teams can move up only 10 spots, meaning the Flames will need to finish in the bottom 11 to have a chance at the Macklin Celebrini sweepstakes.
Assuming they pick around the 10th overall pick, this series will be an early look into which players fit the Flames prospect pool’s needs: centres and defence to put it simply. In this edition, we’ll take a look at Sacha Boisvert.
Sacha Boisvert scouting report and profile
Left-shot centre; born March 17, 2006 in Trois-Rivières, Quebec; 6’2″, 178 lbs
Despite being Canadian, Boisvert went down the United States Hockey League pathway for his junior hockey. He plays for the Muskegon Lumberjacks, scoring 30 goals and 55 points in 53 points, besting his previous career-high in 2022-23 when he scored 17 goals and 45 points in 57 games. The 18-year-old has committed to playing for the University of North Dakota beginning in the 2024-25 season.
Boisvert ranks anywhere from the 15th-best draft prospect according to Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala to the 33rd-ranked draft prospect according to Elite Prospects. Moreover, Daily Faceoff ranks him as the 19th-best draft prospect available, which is also his consolidated ranking according to Elite Prospects.
The big question is what are his strengths and weaknesses, and how could that help the Flames? Dobber Prospects’ Hadi Kalakeche observed him in Nov. 2023, noting that Boisvert has “a solid shot, great hands and adept passing skills.” However, it’s also noted by Kalakeche that skating tends to be a problem for Boisvert, which hinders his defensive ability.
Bukala, who ranked Boisvert 13th in late February for Sportsnet, said that the 18-year-old is more of a scorer than a play driver, but has improved his ability to skate. Which seems to be an apt descriptor, as he led the USHL in goals.
A score-first centre with holes in his skating and defensive game isn’t the worst player to draft in the middle of the first round. You’d love for him to become a play driver on top of the scoring, or be defensively sound, but the Flames could definitely benefit from a player like Boisvert. Although the Flames farm system is packed with wingers, he could benefit from playing on the wing, much like Alex DeBrincat has, for example.
Either way, Boisvert is one of many players who could be available when the Flames pick.
Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Twitter @Brennan_L_D.
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