FUTURE WATCH: Bouchard back in London

EDMONTON, AB - Defenceman Evan Bouchard flashed glimpses of his prospective future in Oilers silks earlier in the season, scoring his first career National Hockey League goal from the point and suiting up in seven games with the big club before returning to the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights.
Bouchard, donning the captaincy with the Knights, is taking the re-assignment in stride, focusing on the lessons he learned with the Oilers and applying them to what he intends to make a successful year in Ontario. London sits in first place of the Midwest Division and is currently riding a nine-game winning streak. Bouchard's laced up in only six games with the team this year, skating alongside Adam Boqvist or Alec Regula, notching victories in each outing.
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"Of course, everyone that gets sent down is a little bit upset but you just need to think of the positives," Bouchard, drafted 10th-overall in the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas, TX, said. "I got a few games in and I learned a lot from that experience every day. I know what the coaches expect of me, I know what to work on."
The right-shot rearguard, who is already up to three goals and seven points this season after recording 87 last year, is aware of the firepower on his club. London has 10 players with double-digit point totals this season already and there's no nonsense from Bouchard when detailing the intentions of the squad for the year, which includes J. Ross Robertson and Memorial Cup aspirations.
"We're definitely a top team in the League this year, you can tell by our record and the way we're playing right now," Bouchard said. "It's the goal of this season for everyone. Now it's really just preparing in the regular season, getting ready for playoffs and playing the right way."
It's a stark contrast from the Knights' 2017-18 season. The squad finished third in the Midwest and fifth in the Western Conference, concluding the campaign 39-25-2-2.

"I think this year we have a good shot at it (the Memorial Cup)," the 19-year-old said confidently.
Bouchard isn't looking too far ahead, though, in a season that has already been quite busy. The hectic schedule would continue if the defender mans the blueline for Team Canada at the 2019 World Junior Championships in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C.
"Come December, obviously, I'll be thinking about it a lot more," Bouchard said of the international event. "I'm staying focused with London and taking it one step at a time. You can't be thinking about what's ahead of you."
With that mentality, the next step forward for the Dman is a date with Ryan McLeod and his Mississauga Steelheads on Thursday.
"We've been talking almost every day," Bouchard said of his good friend and fellow Oilers prospect. "We're both excited to play each other tomorrow."