2018 Draft: 1st pick: Evan Bouchard (D) - Signs ELC

[McDaddy]

Is the Trivago guy an old looking 38-year-old or a young looking 65-year-old?

Oh my God, this. THIS.

EDIT: Had to look him up, Tim Williams, 51.

 

[Senor Catface]

Are you calling me racist?

 

[bone]

Oh my God, this. THIS.

EDIT: Had to look him up, Tim Williams, 51.

Hilarious. So directly in the middle. So I guess he looks his age.

 

[Cloned]

Well I'm glad the Trivago discussion spans multiple threads now.

 

[Niten Ichi Ryu]

Excellent. I hope he proves all the doubters wrong.
There's a thread in the prospect section about ranking the 5: Hughes, Boqvist, Dobson, Bouchard, and Smith
Seems almost unanimous most people other than Oiler fans are ranking him as 5, or at best 4. Nonsense, he'll be 2 or at least 3rd on that list in terms of ceiling

 

[nexttothemoon]

Excellent. I hope he proves all the doubters wrong.
There's a thread in the prospect section about ranking the 5: Hughes, Boqvist, Dobson, Bouchard, and Smith
Seems almost unanimous most people other than Oiler fans are ranking him as 5, or at best 4. Nonsense, he'll be 2 or at least 3rd on that list in terms of ceiling

He's #1... not close.

 

[McJazz]

If he goes back to London this fall, it will probably be a very different season than the last one. The Knights will have Boqvist as well, so that should reduce Bouchard’s TOI by a fair margin. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; It should allow him to be more focused in the defensive end and a more explosive skater to some extent. Playing 35-40 minutes a game isn’t optimal. However, we shouldn’t panic if his offensive output is slightly reduced. Having another lethal PPQB in Boqvist could naturally result in less offensive opportunities for Bouchard, and once again that doesn’t have to be a negative thing. Big season ahead!

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

If he goes back to London this fall, it will probably be a very different season than the last one. The Knights will have Boqvist as well, so that should reduce Bouchard’s TOI by a fair margin. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; It should allow him to be more focused in the defensive end and a more explosive skater to some extent. Playing 35-40 minutes a game isn’t optimal. However, we shouldn’t panic if his offensive output is slightly reduced. Having another lethal PPQB in Boqvist could naturally result in less offensive opportunities for Bouchard, and once again that doesn’t have to be a negative thing. Big season ahead!

I disagree with idea, because it's still Junior hockey. If anything his icetime will stay pretty much the same, it's just he'll have a partner along for the ride in Boqvist. Either way, I agree I expect a big season ahead.

 

[McSuper]

How was playing Yamamoto nine games with the Oilers 'rushing' him?

Gave him a taste of the NHL before his final season in junior. That's pretty much an ideal development choice.

This . Fans forget teens are cocky and think they know everything . Tell a teen you need to work on this they may think screw you I can do that this is practise I am not fully engaged . Give them 9 games and let them get a taste of the money as well as the NHL speedy . A lesson learnt on your own has more value then someone tell you so . I think 9 games is a real valuable learning tool

 

[Debonair]

I disagree with idea, because it's still Junior hockey. If anything his icetime will stay pretty much the same, it's just he'll have a partner along for the ride in Boqvist. Either way, I agree I expect a big season ahead.

Don't think they'd both be on the same pair all the time - both right shots.

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Don't think they'd both be on the same pair all the time - both right shots.

No no, for sure, but I'm saying when the bench gets shortened they will likely be out there more then not.

 

[CornKicker]

evan bouchard looks like a 32 year old grizzled vet.

hes ready

 

[RobbyLexusEdm]

I’m excited to see how he does, I think a 9 game try out wouldn’t hurt

 

[ohheyhemsky]

I’m excited to see how he does, I think a 9 game try out wouldn’t hurt

If he deserves it. No point in giving him 9 games if he's blowing assignments and causing goals against in training camp and the pre-season.

 

[joestevens29]

If he deserves it. No point in giving him 9 games if he's blowing assignments and causing goals against in training camp and the pre-season.

This. Ky didn't just get given 9games last year. There weren't a lot of media giving it any chance either, but ky kept getting better every time they through something harder at him. Bouchard will have to do the same.

 

[nexttothemoon]

evan bouchard looks like a 32 year old grizzled vet.

hes ready

Evan Bouchard has that same Aaron Ekblad "18 going on 35" vibe going on.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Someone mentioned in another thread that Bouchard might play in Europe this season. If so which league do you guys think that he'd play in?

 

[Section337]

Someone mentioned in another thread that Bouchard might play in Europe this season. If so which league do you guys think that he'd play in?

I took it to mean he would travel to Europe with the Oil at the beginning of the season.

 

[Bryanbryoil]

I took it to mean he would travel to Europe with the Oil at the beginning of the season.

That sounds much better. I didn't hear it so I wasn't sure what to make of it. I think that it'd be a great trip for him to make as part of a bonding experience with the team.

 

[RobbyLexusEdm]

If he deserves it. No point in giving him 9 games if he's blowing assignments and causing goals against in training camp and the pre-season.

yeah definitely agree, I should have specified that it all depends if he shows some defensive responsibility in the pre-season. Do you think he can be ready for an NHL season this early? It's pretty rare imo.

off the top of my head I recall Gostisbehere, Ekblad, Doughty being younger defenceman who stepped in and had relative success pretty early in their careers. Also Zach Werenski comes to mind

 

[McJazz]

No no, for sure, but I'm saying when the bench gets shortened they will likely be out there more then not.

Yes but how will he play 40 minutes like many games last year when they have Boqvist on another pairing?

 

[Jimmi McJenkins]

Yes but how will he play 40 minutes like many games last year when they have Boqvist on another pairing?

I'm saying the other player available for those "pairings" won't matter because they won't be on Bouchard/Boqvist's level.

 

[Aerrol]

yeah definitely agree, I should have specified that it all depends if he shows some defensive responsibility in the pre-season. Do you think he can be ready for an NHL season this early? It's pretty rare imo.

off the top of my head I recall Gostisbehere, Ekblad, Doughty being younger defenceman who stepped in and had relative success pretty early in their careers. Also Zach Werenski comes to mind

IIRC only Ekblad and Doughty stepped in right after being drafted though. Ghost and Werenski came in the year afterwards (D+2)

 

[nexttothemoon]

Ghost Bear was 21 years old when he 1st sniffed the NHL... and that was only for a 2 game cup of coffee. He was 22 years old when he had his big rookie season.

 

[RobbyLexusEdm]

IIRC only Ekblad and Doughty stepped in right after being drafted though. Ghost and Werenski came in the year afterwards (D+2)

Ghost Bear was 21 years old when he 1st sniffed the NHL... and that was only for a 2 game cup of coffee. He was 22 years old when he had his big rookie season.

Oh geez I always thought they were way younger, my bad