Scouts’ Quotes – Reichel/Bourque
April 18, 2020
By Grant McCagg
Lukas Reichel – LW Eisbaren Berlin DEL 2002-05-17 6-0 170
2019-20 Stats – 42GP 12 12 24Pts Shoots Left
Quebec-based crossover scout Apr. 2020 – Good player. He’s got talent. I saw him early in Slovakia. He was fine with letting Stutzle do all the heavy lifting, but he could keep up with him and he could think on the same page with him, so that bothered me a little bit; I wanted him to be a bit more of a driver of the offence. Then the next time I saw him in the DEL, he played harder. He’s just light…I don’t think he’s soft. I think he has more natural skill than Peterka, and I like Peterka. He just needs to add a little bit of weight; he can’t sustain his first contact. But he’s a young kid playing in a men’s league.
Ontario-based crossover scout Apr. 2020 – I like Reichel in the top 20, he’s a good player. He’s a good skater, he’s smart, he’s talented. I wouldn’t say he’s highly competitive but he’s not afraid playing with the men. He’s pretty smooth; I like his overall game. He’d be a helluva player if he was in the CHL. His uncle Robert was a helluva player; he may just be scratching the surface in terms of reaching his full potential. The team that drafts him will want to bring him over to North America next season, have him adapt to the smaller ice and style of play. Since his uncle and cousin (Kristian) both played here that shouldn’t be a problem. Look at the extra step Kristian took when he played in the CHL; I’d expect him to play junior for at least a year, and if he improves as much as Kristian did in Calgary, he might be a junior star.
Ontario-based crossover scout Apr. 2020 – He’s gotta be in the 15 range; I’d argue he was the most improved player this year. He really took his game to another level, and he’s still got more to give. The kid can really skate. They played him a lot in the DEL, they even used him in the shootout. His teammates love him and can’t say enough good things about him. He battles in front, down low behind the net, and he wins puck battles too, that’s what I like.
Mavrik Bourque – C Shawinigan QMJHL 2002-01-08 5-10 178
2019-20 Stats – 49GP 29 42 71Pts Shoots Right
Quebec-based crossover scout Apr. 2020 – I saw him the other night, he was great. He’s pure character. He drags guys into the game when they’re not sure they want to get into it, he just brings them all in. I wish he was bigger, but he’s a good player. I like him better than (Calgary first-round pick Thomas) Pelletier, he plays a better two-way game. I like Bourque a lot, but his skating concerns me. He makes up for it with his brain. I think he’s an extremely smart player. He’s involved enough, but needs to gain a step, though.
Quebec-based crossover scout Apr. 2020 – I don’t think he necessarily plays a speed game, but I think his speed is better than people give him credit for. He extends almost every shift. He gets played a shitload; he’s 168 pounds; he logs a lot of tough minutes. He’s overextended almost every shift. Honest to God; almost every time I go there it’s like “Get the fu** off the ice man.” But he produces. I like that. He’s got to get stronger…he’s not getting any bigger…he’s 5-10. Maybe he’s a third-line center. He tries to make a difference most shifts.
Ontario-based crossover scout Apr. 2020 – He is close to Zary in potential. Bourque is more competitive. Zary is a really smart player, not a great skater, a little bit outside. Bourque has a better stride than Zary, he just needs to get stronger. He’s a real character guy. I think he goes inthe first round, likely after 20 because of his size-skating combo, but I can see wht some guys really like him, he is already a great junior.
Ontario-based crossover scout Apr. 2020 – He is a lot like Jarvis in that he makes his linemates better. He sees the ice very well, he thinks the game a step ahead. He’s highly competitive; he comes by that naturally as he grew up on a farm. He’s got really good hands and puck skills in traffic, a good defender and can make a play. He’s a 200-foot player.