Brock Boeser

Position: RW

Age: 25

Height/Weight: 6’1″, 208 pounds

Statistics: 10 goals, 25 assists, 35 points (45 games played)

Player Overview

The 25-year-old winger has been connected to the New Jersey Devils seemingly for months now. He is young, controllable, and fits a team need that is a top-six scoring winger. He is everything general manager Tom Fitzgerald is reportedly looking for. So, what should the Devils do?

The Minnesota-born winger was a first-round pick back in 2015. His first full season (2017) he was named to the All-Rookie team as he scored 29 goals in only 62 games (38-goal pace over 82 games). Since then, he has scored at least 20 goals in all but one season.

His lifetime 291 points over 369 games projects out to a 65-point pace over an 82-game season. Further, he has scored at a 29-goal pace over an 82-game season since entering the league.

The Analytics

When looking at his analytical makeup, he profiles as an offensive, goal-scorer who is lackluster in his own end. Over the last three seasons, his offensive on-ice impacts rank in the league’s 74th percentile. As the above player card further demonstrates, he has also graded out very well on the power play.

Further evidence of his strong offensive play is since 2017-18 he has totaled an offensive goals above replacement (GAR) of 52.5 and an offensive expected GAR (xGAR) of 42.2. This total offensive GAR figure ranks 38th of 134 qualified* and when pro-rated over 60 minutes (GAR/60) ranks 35th of 134 qualified*. His offensive GAR/60 is better than the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier, just to name a few.

The defensive side of the ice is a different story. Over the past three seasons, Boeser ranks in the league’s 11th percentile defensively. Of the seven seasons he has been in the NHL, Boeser has only posted a positive defensive GAR and defensive xGAR in two seasons. It is pretty safe to say he is below replacement level defensively. Which, given his strong offensive impacts, is an okay trade-off to make.

* – qualified is any skater that has played more than 6,000 minutes of ice time since 2017-18 (roughly 300 games).

Contract

Last off-season, Boeser signed a three-year extension with the Canucks that will keep him under contract until the 2024-25 season. His deal pays him $6.65-million annually.

According to Dom Luszczyszyn of the Athletic, he is worth that offensively. Though, his defensive impacts are so bad this year, Boeser’s current market value is only $2.4-million. Expect that to sky-rocket back up if he’s moved to a better team.

Fit With The Devils

Boeser is someone that would be an immediate upgrade for the Devils in the team’s top six. His contract would also enable him to do so for the next two-and-a-half seasons before hitting free agency. So, he is not a rental.

On the surface, his slightly down year may be troublesome. Though, the Canucks are an extremely poor team, and one can expect that a talent such as Boeser would see a huge improvement in performance on a better team. Especially one as strong, and that plays the type of way, that New Jersey does.

Despite the poor defensive metrics throughout the years, it is no secret Boeser is an extremely skilled-offensive player. Over an 82-game schedule, Boeser scores goals at nearly a 30-a-year pace. Pair that with roughy 60-plus points, and you have yourself a strong, young, controllable goal scorer. Something that matches exactly what the Devils are looking for.

Does A Deal Make Sense?

Of course, it comes down to what it will take to pry Boeser from the struggling Canucks. Well, here is how an article published by the Athletic back in December of 2022 described a potential return for Boeser:

There’s an understanding internally that the return will be relatively pedestrian.

Thomas Drance and Rick Dhaliwal of the Athletic.

Another aspect to keep in mind is the overall cost it would take to acquire Boeser instead of someone like Timo Meier. Boeser would not only be much cheaper to acquire (it would allow the Devils to keep top prospects and picks), but it would also carry a much smaller price tag when it comes to salary (Meier is project to receive north of $8-million), subsequently, making it easier to retain Jesper Bratt (not that acquiring Meier would rule out a Bratt extension). Further, Boeser already has a contract in place, Meier would have to be negotiated with as a restricted free agent. Devils’ fans have seen firsthand how that can go.

Of course, there is a flip side to that argument. Meier is a strong, two-way player that simply brings things Boeser doesn’t. And, quite frankly, is the better all-around player than Boeser. Further, an extension, if reached between Meier and the Devils, would guarantee he’s in New Jersey for longer than just two-and-half-seasons.

With all that being said, if Boeser can actually be had at a “pedestrian price,” general manager Tom Fitzgerald would be wise to cash in if a Meier deal does not come to fruition. Boeser is exactly what the Devils are rumored to be looking for – young, under contract for two more years after this season, and a strong offensive player with goal-scoring abilities.

Note, all statistics courtesy of Evolving Hockey.