Tomorrow, Ottawa Senators hockey is back for the 2025-26 season with the first preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck drop is scheduled at 3 p.m. ET at Canadian Tire Centre.
Preseason offers a chance for prospects to show improvement with a new season drawing closer. Recently, some prospects on the Senators were solid in the Prospects Showdown in Montreal, Quebec.
Despite some rookies showing potential in the Prospects Showdown, there's one Senators prospect that Sens fans will be watching closely in the preseason, and he will have to start delivering big.
Boucher needs a big preseason to show Senators that he's made progress
Since being drafted 10th overall by the Senators in the 2021 NHL Draft, Tyler Boucher has had some struggles to his play along with dealing with injuries. Boucher has yet to play an NHL game since being drafted.
It hasn't helped that Cole Sillinger and Wyatt Johnston have become solid players in the NHL as both were taken in the first round after Boucher. It could be possible that the upcoming 2025-26 is the biggest turning point in Boucher's hockey career.
Boucher is entering the final year of his contract this season. With not playing an NHL game and having AHL struggles, the pressure is on Boucher to start showing why the Senators drafted him 10th overall.
A good preseason from Boucher could show the Senators that potential is still there. However, if Boucher still struggles, he could become a trade bait piece with being on an expiring contract. Struggles from Boucher again this season could make the Senators decide to move on from the 22-year-old forward.
Boucher did show promise in the Prospects Showdown this past week with scoring a goal in the Senators' first game of the Prospects Showdown against the Maple Leafs. Boucher had a beautiful shot to score a powerplay goal.
The chances of Boucher making the Senators opening night roster are low. However, if a good preseason is shown from Boucher, it can carry over into a solid AHL season. Boucher will need to start producing points at a solid level in the AHL to show he's got NHL ready abilities.