Here's a 10 year old scouting report on Boyes

[goon attack]

here are a few highlights from this USA Today scouting report on then 18-year old Brad Boyes... there's a blurb about Winchester at the bottom also.

Would it be a major stretch to call Brad Boyes a poor man's version of Red Wings icon Steve Yzerman? It may not be as far-fetched as it seems.

Brad Boyes File
Height/Weight: 6-0/172
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
Birthdate: April 17, 1982
Team: Erie, Ontario Hockey League
Scouting report: He's not big. He's not fast. He's not strong. But pure and simple, he can play. Like most of the good ones, the puck seems to follow him all over the ice. He is a tireless worker and a solid leader. Is an excellent penalty killer who leads by example. A very smart hockey player. Doesn't look for contact but won't shy away from traffic. One word definition - smooth.
BOYES' REPORT CARD

Size/Strength: C+
Skating: B-
Shot/Scoring ability: B+
Puckhandling: A
Hockey Sense: A
Competitiveness: B+
Leadership: A-
Composure/Poise: A
Defense: B

LINK

[Winning Unlimited]

Thats a bit beyond the scouting report we had on Tkachuk.. "He's big and he goes to the net."

[WaukeeBlues]

They should have another word next to smooth- "quiet." Even when he put up 40 goals, hardly anyone outside of the Blues fan base knew it. He is completely unremarkable in almost every way.

[glen a richter]

Truth: right after the Blues acquired Boyes, I went to see them play the Rangers at MSG. I was watching and watching and watching, and kept thinking to myself "who the hell is this Boyes guy?" I had no idea he was on the team. I didn't even know who the hell he was. I must have missed the tidbit about them trading for him and didn't even realize he was a member of the team.

[goon attack]

To me, Boyes is just like another former Bruin we had a long time ago. This guy had a few decent seasons of 30-40 goals but was ultimately just blah and only scored 20 goals with us in one season.

Dave Christian

My winger tier system taking into account scoring first and physicality a close second:

Tier 1: Brett Hull, Brendan Shanahan
Tier 2: Steve Larmer, Joe Mullen, Geoff Courtnall, Gary Roberts
Tier 3: Dave Christian, Brad Boyes, David Backes
Tier 4: Sergio Momesso, BJ Crombeen, Herb Raglan
Tier 5: Rob Pearson, Brad Winchester, Patrick Berglund

[cprice12]

I'll say this about Boyes...he can be outstanding when he wants to.
It just seems like he takes shifts off and loafs out there. That's fine if you're Brett Hull and are still scoring goals while floating, but he's not doing that.

Every once in a while you see Boyes with a fire lit under his ass, and he's frantically fighting for the puck, dancing around with the puck on a string and generating great scoring chances...but those moments were few and far between this year.

He won't be compared to Yzerman...ever. He's just not the leader type...at least he doesn't seem to be.
But he can be a consistent 30+ goal scorer in this league if he doesn't take shifts off.

It was rumored that the reason he struggled to put the puck on the net this year, was because they stopped making his blade type and he couldn't get used to anything else.
Whatever. That's lame. Find a blade that works for you....or have them custom made or something...he's a millionaire for Christ's sake. Certainly he can pay someone to put together some custom hockey sticks.

[Jackman_the_Iceman]

Boyes + one-timers from sideboards on powerplay = SUCCESS!
Boyes + everything else = FAIL!

[Krigloch the Furious]

Hahahaha. Blade type. He's been playing hockey since he was 4.
Gayest thing I've ever heard.

[DaDitka]

Tier 5: Rob Pearson

WWWWAAAAAAAYYYYYY too low.

[dmiles2186]

I remember a game in the '08-'09 season against Tampa I believe. Game went to OT, Boyes got the puck in space and pulled up along the halfboards to the right of the goalie. Boyes then put this wicked wrister, top shelf, far post, that went around a few defenders and beat the goalie easily. At that time, Boyes was in the middle of his 70+ goals in two seasons run. I've found the video. This is what the guy is capable of. At the time, we had no one else on the team who could do this consistently. This was run-of-the-mill stuff from Boyes. If he can regain this form....

[youtube][/youtube]

[fargoblues]

True, but that shot could have just as easily went four feet high and wide. Maybe it is the blade...

[stlbluz]

Outside of some of the fellas quitting or Murray in hopes for a change, I often wonder if there's not a couple of guys tanking on purpose in order to get moved. Stupid I know, but when you mix youth with impatience it's not too far fetched.

[dmiles2186]

True, but that shot could have just as easily went four feet high and wide.

True, but point being...the Boyes of 12 months ago pots that shot regularly. This year....he just looks ridiculous in even attempting.

[goon attack]

I'm failing to see why that shot is so wicked. I mean, he's got a quality wrist shot but the goalie was screened. That was a stoppable shot without the screen. Are you saying his release or positioning was great?

And also, this is 4 on 4. More room for marshmallow man to operate.

[kodos]

Er... how long have you been watching hockey?

I mean, that's not some sort of amazing highlight reel goal, but it's still a nice ass goal. He put himself in the perfect position to hide his shot from the goaltender and picked the corner perfectly. It was a sweet play. Why am I explaining this? Ugh.

Anyway, a few things are funny... 1.) Just how wrong this scouting report is. and 2.) How much we have all turned on Brad Boyes. Man did he go from hero to goat in a hurry. Wow.

I mean, I'm right there with everyone, when he's not using his shot, he's basically worthless... but still, on a team as offensively impotent as the St. Louis Blues, we need guys like Boyes. Well, you know, guys like Boyes was the previous 2 years...

Plus, the guy did probably directly gain the team at least 3-4 points with his cash money shootout skills. Not that those points ended up meaning jack diddly, but still. That is worth something.

[DaDitka]

2.) How much we have all turned on Brad Boyes. Man did he go from hero to goat in a hurry. Wow.

Scoring is sporadic and I fully believe he will net 25 - 30 next year.

That said, he played extremely lazy on both ends of the ice this year and that's what soured me on him. My guess is it was from pure frustration, but that still doesn't excuse it in my book.

[goon attack]

He put himself in the perfect position to hide his shot from the goaltender and picked the corner perfectly. It was a sweet play. Why am I explaining this?

I don't know why. Guys make that exact play, or try to like 20 times a game. Boyes does it once, scores once out of 20 tries and he's some sort of wicked sniper? Please. Sure, he's skilled... bfd... dude gets ice time. I could make that damn play 4 on 4.

The goalie didn't see the puck until the last minute. MAJOR PROPS to Boyes for setting up a screen... looks like his Pee Wee coach really did well to get him to maintain that wicked skill.

But hey, excuse me... you're some sort of f*cken authority all of a sudden.

But you're damn right on the lameness of this scouting report... comparing marshmallow man to Yzerman? Holy hell... Yzerman succeeded because he played bigger than his size. He was physical and didn't shy away from physical stuff. Boyes will not do the same.

[goon attack]

Tier 5: Rob Pearson

WWWWAAAAAAAYYYYYY too low.

How do ya figure? I based this on his time with the Blues, which was shit. Perhaps he'd be a Tier 4 guy... he was just a disappointment, big time. High draft pick but couldn't raise his skills to NHL superstar caliber.

[JPonder94]

Tier 5: Rob Pearson

WWWWAAAAAAAYYYYYY too low.

How do ya figure? I based this on his time with the Blues, which was shit. Perhaps he'd be a Tier 4 guy... he was just a disappointment, big time. High draft pick but couldn't raise his skills to NHL superstar caliber.

My sarcasm radar went off drastically when I originally read his comment.

[STLADOGG]

Davidson is just too nice to let anyone go...