Quick study Bouchard already earning respect
Oilers’ rookie defenceman expected to play alongside Russell in season opener
Rookie defenceman Evan Bouchard’s locker stall is wedged into the corner of an Edmonton Oilers dressing room here that’s the size of a stretch limo.
But if he’s hard to find off the ice, you won’t have any trouble spotting him Saturday if he plays his first NHL game alongside partner Kris Russell. Bouchard, the 10th overall pick in June, may get the nod over Ethan Bear.
“He’s like a sponge, he takes everything in,” said Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse. “He’s getting better and better every day. He’s going to be huge for our team.”
Nurse laughed about his first NHL game in Los Angeles.
“Well, we were playing the former Stanley Cup champions. I think I had a hit, a shot on net and a minus-1 on my first shift in the league,” said Nurse. “I know it’s harder for young defencemen to break into this league, but I like Evan’s poise. He’s head’s up and he always has an idea where the next play is even before he has the puck. He doesn’t seem to get flustered when he’s got the puck and when he doesn’t,” said centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
As for Russell, he has been on injured reserve but looks ready.
“Kris has passed all the tests he needs to pass,” said coach Todd McLellan. “I’m just waiting on the trainers to tell me he’s good to go.”
If Russell plays, that gives them 24 players, one too many for an NHL roster.
Either Bear, who doesn’t have to clear waivers, or a 14th forward Alex Chiasson, who would have to get through waivers, would be the most logical players to be sent to their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.
NEW MASK FOR TALBOT
Oilers goalie Cam Talbot will wear a one-time only mask from his artist Dave Gunnarsson, who’s from Sweden.
“I gave Dave creative freedom because I’m not familiar with the Swedish culture so it has my normal Ghostbuster on the top with the ghost wearing a Viking helmet on a ship. The sides have the Swedish crowns,” said Talbot. “Pretty cool to wear the mask here.”
It’ll be auctioned off by the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.
BRATT OUT FOR SWEDEN
Devils Swedish winger Jesper Bratt broke his jaw Thursday, a blow for the local fans and the Devils because he was on their second line with Pavel Zacha and Marcus Johansson.
“A freak accident after practice where a shot went off the cross-bar and hit Jesper, who was standing in the corner,” said coach John Hynes. “No surgery but he’s out two-tothree weeks.”
With Bratt out, the Devils signed tryout forward Drew Stafford, 32, who played for New Jersey last year and had made the trip overseas, looking for work. Stafford (784 games) got $810,000 because Devils have the second-lowest cap to Carolina.
‘HUGE BUILDING BLOCK’
The Devils kept Nico Hischier, the 2017 No. 1 overall pick, away from Connor McDavid in their two meetings early last season, but won’t go that route Saturday.
“That was a situation with a player in his first year, but he’s come back stronger. We’re looking at having Nico play against the other team’s top lines on a nightly basis. He has the hockey sense and competitiveness to do it. Now it’s about the physical maturity,” said Hynes.
“There’s going to be a time where he’s a top-10 centre in the league. I don’t know if that’s for seven years or a couple of years but he’s a huge building block for our squad,” said his wingman Taylor Hall.
SCOUTING TOUR
Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli and right-hand man Craig MacTavish drove two and-a-half hours to Vaxjo to see their signed defenceman Joel Persson Thursday night.
“Who is he like in the NHL? Maybe Ryan Ellis. Smaller player, big shot,” said former Oilers goalie Mike Zanier, in Gothenburg to speak at a hockey seminar. Zanier does colour commentary for Vaxjo and tipped off Oilers adviser Paul Coffey about Persson midway through last season.
This ’n’ that: Hall and McDavid both have MVPs on their resume, but Hall knows where he fits in the equation. “Connor’s the better player,” said Hall, emphatically ... Off practice, it appears Tobias Rieder will be the fourth-line left-winger, which means Drake Caggiula will sit ... Jakub Jerabek, traded to the St. Louis Blues for a sixth-round draft pick in 2020, isn’t on their roster yet because of visa issues ... Devils’ No. 1 goalie Cory Schneider, who had surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left hip May 1, is a few weeks from playing. Keith Kincaid will get the start against Oilers ... Scottie Upshall, who couldn’t take part in Oilers camp because of a sore leg, may have an offer to play in Switzerland ... Ron Low, now an Oilers ambassador, is in Europe, shepherding 100 Oilers fans for games in Cologne and here. Fitting that the former Oilers goalie and head coach is here, having played for Edmonton and infamously for New Jersey.