Projected to go late in the first round at the start of his draft year, London Knights captain Evan Bouchard finds himself ranked as a top-five defenceman at season’s close.
He recorded 20 more points in his first year of draft eligibility than Ryan Merkley, who was the next highest scoring draft-eligible defenceman in 2017-18. Bouchard’s 87 points also make him the first defenceman to break 80 points in his draft year since Ryan Ellis in 2008-09.
The rebuilding Knights had a difficult start to the season and were swept in the first round of the OHL playoffs, but Bouchard was nominated for OHL Defenceman of the Year, and was the Knights’ nominee for the OHL’s Red Tilson Trophy as Most Outstanding Player of the Year.