Looking at my StatCounter.com page for the blog, I noticed a few people are trying to find some more info on Johnny Boychuk, likely to see how high they want to project him this year (or so I am just assuming). My Bruins roster page was a good attraction for that, as his name is plastered inside of it. The 2002 2nd round pick of the Colorado Avalanche has been toiling around the league and the minors for a number of years already, but it wasn't until he was able to suit up for the Bruins on a full-time basis and into the playoffs before anyone really took notice of him as a potential top fantasy pick. Now, I hesitate to use top pick, rather a really good possible sleeper pick, hoping that everyone else kind of forgot how well he did last Spring.
Boychuk's career numbers are not fantastic, having only played in 5 NHL games before the 2010 season. In 2010, Boychuk only figured into 51 regular season games, picking up 15 points, but the most important thing he picked up last year was confidence, both from himself and the Bruins coaching staff. In 13 playoff games, he picked up 2 goals and 4 assists and was a bit more of a force, so now the notice has been served and we all get to apply some prognostications to his future success.
Looking at the publications so far, the Hockey News Ultimate Pool Guide has him at 32 points, the Forecaster NHL Preview has him at 31 points, Dobber's crew posts him all the way up at 38 points and I think I would be a little more conservative but roughly in the same neighbourhood.
Boychuk shouldn't be a top end blueline scorer, but if the rest of your pool thinks he is a 15-point defenseman, you should be able to snag him in the 20-25 point bracket and still collect a bargain bin's worth of points. He will have some competition for those key minutes offensively in Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg, who could be considered safer picks, if you wanted to stay in Boston.
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