The Edmonton Oilers have loaned defenceman Evan Bouchard to Sodertalje SK in the HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second-tier pro league, for the beginning of the 2020-21 NHL season, the team announced Tuesday.
In a corresponding move, the Oilers also announced that forward Gaetan Haas has been sent to SC Bern of the Swiss National League for the same period.
The decision likely comes in light of the AHL's revised start date, which is now slated for Dec. 4, 2020, after the league was forced cancel its 2019-20 season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bouchard, the 10th pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, had 36 points in 54 games with the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers' AHL affiliate, in 2019-20.
He suited up for seven games with the Oilers to start the 2018-19 campaign before being sent back to the OHL's London Knights.
Haas, 28, had 10 points across 58 games with the Oilers last season, his first in the NHL after 10 years in the Swiss National League.