3/7 Prospect Update: Reid Boucher is Good.

It has been a tough stretch as a Devils fan lately, but this week was a huge one for a couple of Devils' prospects as Reid Boucher, Blake Coleman, and Keith Kinkaid had one of the most exciting weeks of their lives. Keep reading to see how everyone performed last week and for extra information on some individuals.

Notes:

• Graham Black played well last week - he had four points in four games (two goals and two assists). He is third on the Swift Current Broncos in points and second in goals.
• Artur Gavrus finally broke his goal drought and scored his first two of the season. He has played in 17 games for the Owen Sound Attack and now has seven points.
• Blake Coleman and the Miami University Redhawks won the final CCHA title. Here is an interesting article about Coleman and how he found a passion hockey in Texas as a young boy.
• He did it! Reid Boucher broke the record set by Steven Stamkos for most goals scored in a single season for the Sarnia Sting. Reid broke the record in the best way he knows - with a hat trick. When asked about the accomplishment, Boucher was relieved,

"I’m relieved more than anything else. I’ve been getting a lot of heat lately for not scoring in the last two games. I’m pretty happy. Scoring the record-breaking goal on a breakaway was pretty cool. I’m probably going to have a couple of bumps and bruises because I fell down after the puck went in."

Congratulations to Boucher!

Playoff Outlook:

• In the OHL, the Owen Sound Attack (Artur Gavrus), Kitchener Rangers (Ben Thomson), and Sarnia Sting (Reid Boucher) have clinched playoff spots in the west.
• The Kelowna Rockets (Damon Severson) have clinched in the western conference in the WHL.

Albany News:

• With Brodeur out indefinitely with a back injury, Keith Kinkaid was called up to back up Hedberg. Even with the losing streak and poor play from Hedberg, it took until the Devils were losing to the Lightning on Tuesday for Kinkaid to get his first taste in the NHL. He did a pretty good job, especially with this save on Steven Stamkos.

• Kinkaid and Janssen were sent back to Albany yesterday and Jeff Frazee was called up to take the open spot in goal.
• Bobby Butler was put on waivers to be sent back to Albany, but he was claimed by Nashville. Although he wasn't a scoring machine, this makes the Devils depth on offense even thinner. Good luck with the Predators, Bobby!
• Clermont got to play a game in Albany with all of the goalies shuffling around - he lost 2-1 in the shootout.
• Clermont was sent back to the ECHL and Wedgewood was called up from Trenton - he may get his first chance in net for Albany tomorrow night.
• The Albany Devils went 2-0-1 last week:
  • They won 3-1 over Syracuse with two goals by Darcy Zajac and one from Chris McKelvie. Frazee got his third win in four starts.
  • Clermont made 29 saves in a 2-1 shootout loss. Darcy Zajac got the only regulation goal for the Devils.
  • Phil DeSimone had two goals and Joe Whitney had one goal and two assists in a 3-2 win over Adirondack.

Player Spotlight:

It would be wrong to pick anyone but Reid Boucher after the week he had. After going scoreless in two games, it was starting to become a question as to when Boucher would break the Sarnia Sting goal record. In the second period of Sarnia's most recent game against Saginaw, Boucher scored three goals to tie, break, and add to the single season goal record. The Sting still has five games left in the regular season for Boucher to make the record more difficult to break.

Boucher and his line mate, Charlie Sarault (who is undrafted) will be honored at the Sting home game tomorrow evening - Boucher for his 60 goal season and Sarault for a 100+ point season.

That's it for the prospect update this week. What are your thoughts on the goalie shuffle going on between the NHL, AHL, and ECHL Devil prospects? Who do you think deserves the open spots? What prospects have been standing out to you the most (besides Boucher)? Feel free to discuss anything prospect related below. Thanks for reading!