SYDNEY, N.S. — The Cape Breton Eagles added a National Hockey League draft pick to its roster on Monday for the second half of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season.
Cape Breton acquired 19-year-old Xavier Bouchard from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in exchange for 17-year-old defenceman Alex Falardeau, a second-round draft pick in 2020, originally belonging to Baie-Comeau, and a second-round pick in 2021.
Eagles general manager Jacques Carrière considers Bouchard to be an all-round defenceman.
"He's a good size, he's drafted in the NHL, and really a guy you can give special missions to cover the best guys on the other side," said Carrière. "He's a very good passer, his outlet passes and whatnot are very good - he has a very good passing game."
Carrière said the team recognized it needed help on the blue-line, which was one of the areas the team hoped to improve at the trade deadline.
"One of the things that the hockey committee had agreed upon is that we needed some help back there," he said. "I think this move without a doubt is going to add to our defensive squad."
Bouchard, a six-foot-three, 194-pound defenceman, was the fifth overall pick by the Drakkar at the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft.
In 219 career games, Bouchard recorded 18 goals and 93 assists for 111 points along with 190 penalty minutes and a minus-6 rating. He also represented Canada at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge during the 2016-17 season.
As for Falardeau, he was a fourth-round pick, No. 72 overall, by the Eagles at the 2018 QMJHL Entry Draft.
In 30 games this season, the Lévis, Que., native, had one assist along with 12 penalty minutes and a minus-3 rating. He spent most of the season on the team’s third defence pairing with rookie Jérémy Langlois.
Carrière said Falardeau was a key part of the deal.
"Baie-Comeau, right from the start of negotations, were high on Alex Falardeau," he said. "There was no way out of that one for us."
In 2018, Bouchard, the son of Syracuse Crunch assistant coach Gilles Bouchard, was a sixth-round draft pick, No. 185 overall, by the Vegas Golden Knights at the NHL Entry Draft.
Bouchard, a Rouyn-Noranda, Que., product, is currently not signed by the Golden Knights.
"He may come back as a 20-year-old, but of course we want all of our players to develop and play and sign in the NHL," said Carrière. "He's unsigned with the possiblity of coming back next season."
The Cape Breton Post has learned if Bouchard doesn't come back for his 20-year-old season next year, Baie-Comeau will return the second-round pick in 2021 to Cape Breton.
Twitter: @CBPost_Jeremy
