Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard has been assigned to the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights, the team announced Friday.

In a corresponding roster move, the Oilers have recalled blue-liner Kevin Gravel from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors.

Bouchard appeared in seven games with the Oilers, a stretch that saw him register his first NHL goal against the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals.

The Oilers selected Bouchard with the 10th overall pick in last year's draft. He recorded 87 points in 67 games for the Knights last season.

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As a hockey fan, few things are more fun than a roster filled with young, fast, up-and-coming players. For instance, Team North America captivated the sport's international community at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey by giving us a taste of the future.

With that in mind, we decided to use our imagination and build a 25-man roster - 13 forwards, nine defensemen, and three goaltenders - using only the best under-25 players in the world.

There's no cap limit and no consideration of specific forward positions or whether a defenseman shoots left or right. We're simply picking the top players in each category. So, without further ado, here is theScore's All-Under-25 Team (career stats as of Nov. 1):

Forwards

Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

Age: 21
Drafted: First round (No. 1 overall), 2015
Accolades: Hart Memorial Trophy (2016-17), Art Ross Trophy (2016-17, 2017-18), Lester B. Pearson Award (2016-17, 2017-18), First-Team All-Star (2016-17, 2017-18)

Any list of this sort that doesn’t begin with this generation's GOAT should be considered invalid. McDavid performs unreal feats on a nightly basis, outworking opponents (and often teammates) while outskating literally everyone.

Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

Age: 23
Drafted: First round (No. 1 overall), 2013
Accolades: Calder Trophy (2013-14), Second-Team All-Star (2017-18)

Don't let recent ho-hum seasons from the Avalanche fool you - the things MacKinnon can do with the puck (at blazing speed) are phenomenal. He was a Hart Trophy finalist last season and is on track to reach similar heights in 2018-19.

Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Age: 21
Drafted: First round (No. 1 overall), 2016
Accolades: Calder Memorial Trophy (2016-17)

From his deceptive release to his elite hockey IQ to his sheer size, Matthews combines all the factors that scouts drool over into one player, and kicks them up a notch. There’s a reason he made Team North America before he ever played an NHL game. Meanwhile, a hot start this season prompted talk from some corners that Matthews could actually be better than McDavid, and while most realistic observers recognize that’s an overstatement, tongues are wagging nonetheless.

Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 21
Drafted: First round (No. 2 overall), 2015

Ignore the injuries and look at Eichel's dominance when healthy. He's simply one of the best young forwards out there, with all the necessary tools to be a legitimate first-line center. Alongside new linemate Jeff Skinner, Eichel just might be able to turn things around for the Sabres (if he can stay off IR).

Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

Age: 23
Drafted: First round (No. 3 overall), 2014

Draisaitl's not just the perfect complement to McDavid on the Oilers - he’s a formidable player in his own right. The 23-year-old is dynamic with the puck despite not being the best skater around, and will likely finish second behind McDavid in points again this year.

Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
Age: 24
Drafted: First round (No. 11 overall), 2012

As Forsberg continues to grow as a player, it’s difficult to believe David Poile acquired him in 2013 for Martin Erat and Michael Latta. The 24-year-old Forsberg is one of Nashville’s top offensive weapons - scoring some truly ridiculous goals - and he puts in the work to boot.

Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

Age: 21
Drafted: Second round (No. 35 overall), 2015

Aho’s current 12-game assist streak is tied for the longest to begin a season in NHL history, but that’s not why he makes this list - it's just gravy. Aho’s dangerous every time he’s on the ice, thanks to his high-end hockey smarts and speed.

Patrik Laine, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 20
Drafted: First round (No. 2 overall), 2016

A pure goal-scorer who garners comparisons to Alex Ovechkin (time will tell if those bear out), Laine rarely misses when he takes his shot - both on the ice and when he’s talking to reporters. He’s also a high-end playmaker who possesses great hands.

Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers

Age: 23
Drafted: First round (No. 2 overall), 2013

Pundits like to crow about the Panthers' captain being underrated, and Barkov is certainly one of the top centers in the NHL. His elite hockey sense allows him to play - and succeed - in literally any situation.

David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
Age: 22
Drafted: First round (No. 25 overall), 2014

With 11 goals already this season, Pastrnak's a key piece of one of the best lines in hockey. He's also front and center in the Bruins' long-term plans. The 22-year-old is an elite scorer (69 goals across the last two seasons) and pairs his strong vision with a high enough skill level to execute what he sees.

Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche

Age: 22
Drafted: First round (No. 10 overall), 2015

Alongside linemates MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog, the 22-year-old Rantanen is embarrassing the rest of the league right now. He leads the NHL in points with 21 (MacKinnon's next with 18) and is well on his way to following up last year’s stellar campaign with an even better one. Rantanen’s high-end playmaking skills combined with his finishing ability make him an offensive threat on a nightly basis.

William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 22
Drafted: First round (No. 8 overall), 2014

Don’t let Nylander’s contract impasse distract from the sublime offensive ability he displays every time he steps onto the ice. And he’s not just a "skilled winger," as he also played some center last season, displaying his versatility. Overall, Nylander's hockey sense, agility, and excellent hands (all of which he can use at top speed) set him apart.

Jack Hughes, U.S. National Team Development Program
Age: 17
Drafted: Eligible in 2019

Much like Matthews making the Team North America roster before entering the NHL, Hughes makes ours. His inclusion as a 17-year-old may be contentious, but think of him as this team’s 13th forward. Hughes' skill level and hockey IQ are sky-high, and seeing him alongside the rest of these players would be a treat.

Defensemen

Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets

Age: 24
Drafted: First round (No. 4 overall), 2013
Accolades: Second-Team All-Star (2017-18)

There’s a reason Jones was, for a time, considered the potential No. 1 pick in 2013 ahead of MacKinnon. He's the engine that makes the Blue Jackets go, and he checks off every box necessary for an elite top-pairing defenseman. There’s a good chance you’ll see Jones receive at least one Norris Trophy before his career is over.

Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 21
Drafted: First round (No. 8 overall), 2015

Werenski - an incredibly smart player and an excellent skater - forms an elite defensive pairing with Jones in Columbus. He managed to post 16 goals and 21 assists in 2017-18 despite playing most of the campaign with a shoulder injury that ultimately required offseason surgery.

Jacob Trouba, Winnipeg Jets

Age: 24
Drafted: First round (No. 9 overall), 2012

Trouba's immense value to the Jets is evidenced by the fact that he’s had multiple contract disputes (arbitration this past summer and sitting out/asking for a trade prior to the 2015-16 season) but is still in Winnipeg. The 24-year-old is mobile for a big guy and shuts down opponents with regularity. Meanwhile, offense will never be his calling card, but Trouba can produce when necessary.

Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
Age: 20
Drafted: First round (No. 14 overall), 2016

McAvoy proved last season that his playoff debut with the Bruins wasn’t a fluke. Between his stellar shot, high-end vision, and love of physicality, McAvoy will be leading Boston's blue line for years to come. Bonus: He can handle playing in just about any situation.

Ivan Provorov, Philadelphia Flyers

Age: 21
Drafted: First round (No. 7 overall), 2015

Provorov ended last season tied for the league lead in goals by a defenseman (17), and the Flyers don’t hesitate to match him up against their toughest opponents. The youngster is poised, quick, and very smart - ideal traits for a defender in the modern NHL.

Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers
Age: 22
Drafted: First round (No. 1 overall), 2014
Accolades: Calder Memorial Trophy (2014-15)

You won’t see Ekblad on many highlight reels or at the top of the scoresheet, but he's effective in difficult top-pairing minutes. The former No. 1 overall pick is smart, a strong puck-mover, and possesses an impressive shot.

Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs

Age: 24
Drafted: First round (No. 5 overall), 2012

Rielly is intelligent, mobile, and poised - the kind of player who could make any blue line better, including Toronto's. Last season, he managed to break 50 points despite skating alongside Ron Hainsey against top competition most nights. That's quite an accomplishment in itself.

Mikhail Sergachev, Tampa Bay Lightning
Age: 20
Drafted: First round (No. 9 overall), 2016

The speedy, tenacious, and highly skilled Sergachev can dominate a shift. While he could stand to gain some consistency, he still netted 31 points as a rookie and will look to build on that this year.

Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 18
Drafted: First round (No. 1 overall), 2018

It’s still early for Dahlin, but when you’re constructing a superteam, you want guys with all the tools. Dahlin certainly has those tools, and it’s safe to assume we’ll see them put to good use this season. Even though he's just 18, the Swede is confident in his own abilities and doesn’t hesitate when making decisions. His hockey IQ, agility, and stick-handling skills allow him to succeed in any situation.

Goalies

Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning

Age: 24
Drafted: First round (No. 19 overall), 2012

A 2017-18 Vezina Trophy nominee, Vasilevskiy might be the platonic ideal of what a goaltender should be in today’s game. He’s smart, tracks the puck well, and can dominate when his team needs it. A fun stat: Last season, Vasilevskiy went 6-1-1 in games following a shutout.

Matt Murray, Pittsburgh Penguins

Age: 24
Drafted: Third round (No. 83 overall), 2012
Accolades: Stanley Cup champion (2015-16, 2016-17)

With two Stanley Cup wins under his belt by the age of 23, Murray’s resume is already top-notch, while his hockey IQ and size allow him to appear unstoppable on many nights. Last season was difficult - Murray’s dip in play coincided with injuries and the loss of his father - but his talent is undeniable.

Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators

Age: 23
Drafted: Fourth round (No. 99 overall), 2013

Pekka Rinne’s protege is, in his own words, patient when it comes to the number of games he plays per season, but Saros is nipping at Rinne’s heels. The 23-year-old isn't big like most goalies tend to be right now, but his instincts are elite. And with a bit more seasoning (and many more starts), perhaps Saros will follow in Rinne’s footsteps when it comes to Vezina nominations.

Hannah Stuart keeps a close eye on both drafted and draft-eligible prospects and can usually be found trying to learn more about hockey analytics. She has previously written for FanRag Sports, The Hockey Writers, and Hooked On Hockey Magazine, and can also be found at High Heels and High Sticks. Find her on Twitter at @HockeyWthHannah.

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The Montreal Canadiens set an NHL record for the fastest two goals scored by one team Thursday night against the Washington Capitals, according to NHL Public Relations.

Max Domi notched the go-ahead goal off the rush with 22 seconds left in the game.

Trailing with little time left, the Caps pulled their goalie. Immediately off the ensuing faceoff, Joel Armia scored to put the Habs into the record books.

The Canadiens moved to 7-3-2 with their victory, good for third place in the Atlantic Division.

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The Ottawa Senators have sent rookie forward Alex Formenton back to his junior club, the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, general manager Pierre Dorion told TSN 1200 following Thursday night's game.

The 19-year-old played in nine of the Senators' opening 12 games, where he recorded just one goal on 16 shots. By returning Formenton down prior to him playing in his 10th game of the season, the team won't burn the first year of his entry-level contract.

Formenton was drafted in the second round, 47th overall, in 2017. Last season, he recorded 29 goals and 48 points in as many games with the Knights.

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BUFFALO - Turning around to face a reporter after sliding his helmet onto the top shelf of his KeyBank Center stall, it took Jack Eichel milliseconds to reply to a question about Rasmus Dahlin’s adjustment to the NHL.

“I think he’s been pretty good,” the Sabres captain and No. 1 center told theScore. “You watch our games? He’s been pretty good, eh?”

While it was a run-of-the-mill quote, Eichel’s body language said something different. A straight face and suggestive eyes accompanied the second “pretty good," as if Eichel was downplaying Dahlin in an effort to keep the rookie’s rising stock under wraps a tad longer.

It was the look a person gives when they know something and you don't.

“He’s been as advertised. He’s been tremendous,” Eichel said following some prodding. “If he’s not one of the best defensemen in the NHL in a few years, I’d be extremely surprised.”

In selecting Dahlin with the No. 1 pick this past June, the Sabres - who have been entrenched in Rebuild 2.0 ever since Jason Botterill took over for Tim Murray as general manager a year and a half ago - landed the perfect piece to complement Eichel. Armed with an 18-year-old future franchise defenseman and a 22-year-old star center, second-year bench boss Phil Housley now has premier building blocks at two key positions.

The early returns are promising, too. The Sabres recorded at least one point in eight of their 12 games in October, and Dahlin whistled past the nine-game rookie audition period. Appearing in every contest and earning 19 minutes per outing, he's been showcasing a diverse toolbox headlined by breezy skating.

“Effortless. Floating. At the same time, so fast, so powerful,” veteran winger Jason Pominville said of Dahlin’s trademark skill. “It doesn’t seem like he’s really breaking a sweat when he gets moving out there. It’s fun to watch, but sometimes it’s frustrating as players. You’re like, ‘How does he do that!?’ He just blows by guys.”

Pominville and the rest of the hockey world were acutely aware of Dahlin’s tantalizing abilities long before the 2018-19 season began. Since opening night, the team has transitioned from drooling over his offensive wizardry to being enthralled by the nuanced contributions Dahlin brings. Yes, he's far from a finished product, but the big Swedish blue-liner, who's recorded a goal and three assists, is on his way to mastering the small things.

“Maybe in the first five games he was a little hesitant, didn’t want to mess up, didn’t want to turn the puck over,” defenseman Jake McCabe said prior to a game against the Canadiens on Oct. 25. “But, with how much skill and talent he has, you can tell he’s starting to go back to his instincts and let those take over. These next 10-to-20 games, he’s really going to take off.”

As for those subtleties - the plays you might not notice unless you’re really glued into the action - well, for starters, Dahlin has flashed some impressive dexterity when handling the puck. He tends to shift his weight from one leg to the other and enjoys mixing in a head shake or two.

Below, focus on No. 26 in white, the guy holding the line at the bottom right of the screen. He's in constant motion, even while not skating forward:

Known for always playing with his head up and banking 80 Swedish Hockey League games before coming to North America, Dahlin says the shimmy-shake has been part of his arsenal for a while now.

“It’s an old thing. It’s helpful,” said the modest, soft-spoken teen who spent part of his minor hockey career playing forward.

Center Casey Mittelstadt doesn’t care if it’s second nature to Dahlin, he’s still impressed.

“It looks small, but it sends most guys in an absolute twirl,” he said.

Similar to how young snipers Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, and fellow rookie Elias Pettersson are finding new ways to score by firing the puck from different release points and angles, Dahlin is also incorporating an element of unpredictability to his game.

While less boisterous than, say, a quick-twitch snap shot from Matthews, those Dahlin fakes - which seem to emerge mostly when he’s quarterbacking the first power-play unit - serve a similar purpose.

“Deception is one of his best assets - getting a forward leaning the wrong way and going around him, or making no-look passes on the tape, or getting pucks through guys’ sticks,” McCabe said, later praising the rookie's hockey sense.

“It’s also a mental thing,” added fellow defenseman Casey Nelson, stopping to snap his fingers. “He just comes on very quick to things, just gets it, you know what I mean? He’s a very smart hockey player.”

Dahlin’s elite hockey brain has given Housley and assistant Steve Smith - who runs the defense - lineup flexibility. It's extremely rare for a defenseman his age to play regular minutes in the NHL, as entering the season Aaron Ekblad, Jakob Chychrun and Dahlin's teammate, Zach Bogosian, stood as the only 18-year-old rookie blue-liners to dress in more than seven NHL games during the salary-cap era. Even better, Dahlin can also be moved up and down the depth chart and not miss a beat.

Some might suggest the absence of a consistent partner reflects poorly on Dahlin, perhaps hinting he's difficult to play with. Housley and Smith would disagree.

Dahlin’s seven-game stint with McCabe, for instance, illustrated the youngster’s adaptability.

“Quite frankly, we asked Jake to go to the right side and Dahlin to go on the left,” Smith said of the now-injured McCabe, who, like Dahlin, shoots left. “We found Jake was struggling a little bit on the right side, so we put him back on the left side and his game took off. It didn’t matter where Dahlin was; he was playing just as well on both sides of the ice.”

“I actually like the right side a lot,” Dahlin said, eliciting images of Red Wings great Nicklas Lidstrom. “I can play both, so it doesn’t matter.”

The Sabres' defense has been struggling for years, finishing 29th, 21st, 15th, 29th, 25th, and 23rd in goals against since the 2012-13 lockout. In shots against, they’ve ranked 21st, 30th, 22nd, 30th, 28th, and 30th. Though part of the problem can be traced back to poor goaltending, the core issue has been defensive personnel.

Enter Dahlin, a spunky three-zone player from Trollhattan who genuinely cares about defending. Suddenly, Buffalo's defense has a second player worthy of top-pairing minutes. Over time, Rasmus Ristolainen, who's been tasked with carrying the group for the past few years, should be able to breathe a little easier.

Dahlin, who has a 52.2% Corsi rating heading into Thursday night's game against the Senators, asserted himself physically during his debut NHL shift, engaging with Bruins power forward Jake DeBrusk before he could hit the hash marks.

There's a difference between making a big hit for the sake of making a big hit, and making a big hit when the situation calls for physical force. Dahlin often opts for swiping at pucks with his stick while gaining a positional advantage through his efficient lateral movements.

“He’s a guy who is reliable defensively because of his skating, because of how good his stick is,” Pominville said. “He can get away with (riskier pinches) because of that - even if he gets caught, he can still get back.”

Added Smith: “When we first drafted him here, everybody - of course - had an opinion. And I remember listening to a guy who I do respect an awful lot in the game, (NHL Hall of Famer) Denis Potvin. ‘Teach this kid defense first, the offense will come.’ The crazy part is, this kid is so sound defensively that we’re almost pushing him in the other direction.”

Here, Dahlin beats the Calgary forward to a loose puck along the boards and immediately hits teammate Tage Thompson with a clean backhand chip pass:

No edginess was needed, and the crisis was averted through subtle movement.

That combination of heads-up defense, quick decision making, and next-level skating makes Dahlin dangerous to the opposition. Excellent at anticipating what may happen a second or two down the line, the 6-foot-3, 190-pounder selectively activates, cruising through the neutral zone and into the far end of the rink to support Sabres rushes.

“When the situation comes up,” Dahlin said, “I will try to do something. But (I try to) not force it.”

That part of his game proved vital when Dahlin scored his lone NHL goal, a tap-in against Arizona. He weaved his way to the red line before dishing to crafty puck-carrier Jeff Skinner. Following Skinner's drive to the net, Dahlin buries the rebound amid a group of defenders.

Twelve games in, Dahlin is a work in progress. There are shifts when he looks precisely 18 years old (maybe that's why he wasn't named a finalist for Rookie of the Month in October?), and there's a chance he'll hit the dreaded rookie wall at some point, considering he's never completed an 82-game season.

Then again, no matter what transpires between the boards, whether it’s during practice or a game, Dahlin wants to learn more. That aspect of his personality blows away Smith, who was an NHL defenseman himself from 1985 to 2001, and said the young D-man is showing a "thirst for knowledge."

“I find that his maturity is overwhelming for such a young player," he said, later adding, "It's after every shift. He’s not adverse to turning around and saying, ‘Hey, was I OK there? Should I have been there?’ Sometimes I’m initiating, sometimes he’s initiating.”

A projected superstar with a willingness to learn after every shift? What a start.

“I think it’s sorta scary to think about how good he’s going to be in the future,” Skinner said.

“We’re super lucky to have him,” Eichel said, this time cracking the slightest smile.

John Matisz is theScore's National Hockey Writer. You can find him on Twitter @matiszjohn.

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Bobby Orr isn't optimistic the NHL will be able to avoid a fourth lockout since 1994.

"My gut feeling is I'd be surprised if there's not," Orr said this week, according to The Canadian Press. "I hope there isn't. But it's going to be a tough one."

After the most recent lockout in 2013, the NHL and NHLPA signed a 10-year collective bargaining agreement, but both sides own the right to opt out next September. Should that happen, a renegotiation would be required prior to the 2020-21 season, rather than before 2022-23.

Olympic participation and escrow are reportedly among the most pressing issues for the players in the current CBA.

"I think there are concerns (with the current CBA) on both sides." Orr added. "I hope I'm wrong. We don't need another lockout.

"We've got it going now. It would be a shame to put it on the back burner."

Though his playing days are long gone, Orr remains linked to several current players as the head of Orr Hockey Group, an agency that represents superstars Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, among others.

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Slava Voynov has formally applied to the NHL to be reinstated.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said on Thursday that the league will now decide whether to permit the former Los Angeles Kings defenseman to return.

"We’re in (the) process of an intense factual investigation," Daly said, according to The Fourth Period's Dennis Bernstein. "I’m not in a position to give (a) timeline. When (the) investigation is done, (the) commissioner (Gary Bettman) will deal with his application for reinstatement."

The investigation will include witnesses, and Bettman has the right to issue a further suspension upon its conclusion, according to Sportsnet.

Voynov was arrested in fall 2014, and a police report said he punched, kicked and choked his wife, Marta Varlamova. He was convicted on a misdemeanor domestic abuse charge in 2015, and then sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of corporal injury to a spouse.

The Kings terminated his contract shortly thereafter, and Voynov left for Russia in September 2015. He's been playing for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL ever since.

A judge dismissed his conviction in July, opening the door for NHL reinstatement.

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A woman has filed a lawsuit against San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane alleging he failed to follow through on an agreement to pay her $3 million to abort their baby - an accusation Kane's lawyer insists is "baseless."

The lawsuit, claiming a breach of contract, was first reported by TMZ Sports on Wednesday.

Kane's lawyer issued a statement on Thursday, which was obtained by Kevin Kurz of The Athletic:

We've received notice of the filing of a lawsuit by someone referred to as Jane Doe alleging a breach of contract against Evander Kane. We firmly believe that this lawsuit is baseless both factually and legally. We will aggressively defend this claim in court on Evander's behalf and assert all applicable counterclaims.

According to TMZ, the woman's lawsuit states that she and Kane had a relationship dating back to 2015, and that after a third pregnancy - which followed two abortions - Kane started "bullying" her and ultimately offered her $3 million to get an abortion. The woman says she did so, but that she never received the money. She's now suing for more than $6 million over the allegedly neglected payment and other damages.

Kane, 27, signed a seven-year, $49-million contract with the Sharks in the offseason.

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