DRAFT: Bourgault 'impressive' in pre-draft interviews

EDMONTON, AB - Xavier Bourgault had a hunch he would be a member of the Edmonton Oilers organization by night's end as he waited to hear his name called in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft.
It was a feeling that would, sure enough, come to fruition.
"I talked with every team," said Bourgault via Zoom of the extensive interview process with NHL scouts and management teams in the preceding weeks and months. "But the interview with the Oilers was a very good one. I think it was one of my best ones."
"At the start of the Draft, I said the Oilers were my feeling. That's what happened, and I think it's a very good organization for me."

The Shawinigan Cataractes forward is the newest member of the Orange & Blue after being drafted 22nd overall by the Oilers on Friday, bringing with him incredible enthusiasm for his new club and an exciting offensive toolkit as a proven playmaker, slick stickhandler, and clinical finisher with the puck on his stick.
"A really offensive player," assessed Bourgault of his own game. "Very aggressive with the puck. Very good in small areas. I'm a player who can score goals and can be very crafty with the puck. I'm very good on both sides of the ice too."
Bourgault flashed brilliance during a shortened QMJHL campaign of 20 goals and 40 points in 29 games in '20-21 as a winger - a position he's transitioned to in the past few years with Shawinigan after spending the majority of his time at centre. Over the past two seasons, the 18-year-old has helped fill the opposition net with a tally of 111 points in 92 contests.
An abundance of talent, coupled with positional versatility and an incredible drive to train and perform, were major draws for the Oilers brass and Director of Amateur Scouting Tyler Wright.
"He's a high-skilled offensive player," said Wright. "He can play centre, he can play the wing, he's got good size, he's got excellent vision, and excellent skill. He's a student of the game and very competitive. He's a very mature young man who understands and has his priorities in order as far as off-ice training and all that stuff.
"He was very impressive to talk to. He was a guy we targeted and we're excited to get him."

The Oilers immediately add a valuable piece to its prospect pool with the potential to pot plenty of goals for the club in future seasons after President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Ken Holland expressed his preference on Thursday for drafting a forward with the first-round pick.
"We're projecting him to be a top-six forward," added Wright. "We want to add to the mix that we've got. Obviously he's got some developing to do and we've got to give him the resources to do that, but he's got excellent vision, he's got skill, he can play with elite players, and that was very attractive for us."