READY FOR THE BIG SHOW?
Draft prospect oozes confidence
The somewhat forgotten Evan Bouchard will be remembered if his pre-draft declaration of an NHL-ready game comes to fruition next fall.
“That’s the goal,” said the high-scoring London Knights defenceman, who led all OHL blue-liners last season with a whopping 87 points. “I know it’s a big jump and a big push, but I’ m really working hard to be ready for main camp, turn heads and go from there.”
Bouchard watched defencemen Quinn Hughes and Noah Dobson turn heads with impressive performances at the world championships and Memorial Cup, respectively. That could turn the first round Friday in Dallas into a guessing game after super-hyped Swedish blue-liner Rasmus Dahlin is selected first overall by the Buffalo Sabres and high-scoring OHL winger Andrei Svechnikov goes next to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Montreal Canadiens like big Finnish centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi as the third pick and what the Ottawa Senators do at No. 4 is up for debate. Winger Mike Hoffman was dealt Tuesday and disgruntled defenceman Erik Karlsson could be moved this week. The Sens need everything — defencemen, scoring and a presence — and it depends where they are when general manager Pierre Dorion steps to the stage.
If he’s not rebuilding, then QMJHL sniper Filip Zadina provides scoring. If he’s in rebuild-and-wait mode, then Dobson or Hughes are options. Hughes and Bouchard had followup visits to Ottawa after the scouting combine in Buffalo. What does this all mean for Bouchard? If the Arizona Coyotes go for scoring and grit in Boston University winger Brady Tkachuk at No. 5 and the Detroit Red Wings make a play for Hughes at No. 6 then Bouchard could fall to the Vancouver Canucks at No. 7.
Bouchard said he had a “good-but-short” interview with the Canucks at the scouting combine, so read what you want into that.
“You try not to think about it, but it’s in the back of your head and you do think about it a lot,” admitted the six-foot-two, 193-pound Bouchard. “The only thing I worried about was taking care of the season and I did that. Hughes and Dobson might have had a little more attention, but they deserve it.”
Canucks general manager Jim Benning doesn’t have an issue with Bouchard’s skating. The right-shot defenceman’s lateral movement has come into question, but most scouts consider it a non-issue. Benning is intrigued by the blue-liner’s size, shot, scoring, leadership and potential to transition quicker to the NHL than his draft peers.
“He’s physically mature,” said Benning. “Big and strong and has good speed, and with a good summer, he’ll have an easier time adjusting, but time will tell.”
What Bouchard did in London last season deserves a closer look.
He assumed a significant leadership role when Victor Mete, Olli Juolevi and Brandon Crawley jumped to the pro ranks and left the Knights in a world of hurt. The traditionally dominant franchise won just one of its first 10 games, dealt four forwards and leaned on Bouchard to play big minutes, put up big numbers and don the “C.”
“I learned a lot,” said Bouchard. “It’s tough being a leader. A lot of responsibility is going to fall on you and I just tried to make everyone comfortable in the room. That’s when the team played its best hockey and when the players play their best.”
The best parts of Bouchard’s game are his vision, transition, shot and accuracy. The one that gets attention is his skating because explosiveness for bigger players is always going to be a challenge. Bouchard has a strong stride and it’s the focus of his offseason training.
“The game is getting faster and I’m really focusing on my skating and it keeps getting faster,” said Bouchard.
He also believes playing in a junior-hockey pressure cooker has helped him understand how to become a complete player. In each of the last five years the Knights have had a player go in the first round of the NHL draft. That includes Matthew Tkachuk, Max Jones and Juolevi in 2016.
Bouchard credits the drive and dedication of former NHL players and London franchise coowners Dale and Mark Hunter. Their belief is that no matter what position, you play defence first and offence will come naturally.
“If you can’t play defence, they’re not going to play you no matter how good you are,” stressed Bouchard. “The one thing they want is to play quick on defence, get the puck in the hands of forwards and not spend time in the defensive zone. I’ve seen guys scratched for not playing good defence and I know it’s the same way at the next level.”
Bouchard likes to pattern his game after London native Drew Doughty and especially Knights product John Carlson.
“We play a similar type of game,” Bouchard said of Carlson. “He plays the power play and in all situations, and is a very smart player who makes the right play all the time.”
I know it’s a big jump and a big push, but I’m really working hard to be ready for main camp, turn heads.