Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard joins elite postseason company
One of the best defensemen in the NHL, Evan Bouchard has been even better in the postseason to begin his career.
Through 30 career postseason games, the 24-year-old became just the sixth D-man to tally 30-plus points during that stretch and the list is rather impressive, with four NHL Hall of Fame inductees and one on his way in Adam Fox.
Bouchard burst onto the scene last postseason with 17 points in 12 games.
After a career year this season, Bouchard started off the playoffs hot with four assists in the Oilers Game 1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
Bouchard has shown just how easy it can be when you play next to forwards Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, three of the best players in the NHL.
After totaling 83 points in 163 games from 2021-23, Bouchard finished the regular season with 82 points in 81 games played, good for fourth among all defensemen.
His strong play coupled with McDavid and Draisaitl led the Oilers to a 49-27-6 record including an incredible 16-game win streak, tied for the second-longest, in NHL history.
After opening the season 3-9-1, the Oilers fired their head coach Jay Woodcroft and sat at 13-15-1 before going on the streak that turned their season around.
With their focus on a Stanley Cup title this postseason, Bouchard will be key as he is their most explosive offensive threat out of their defensemen and is a crucial part of their power play unit that was fourth in the NHL this season.
Bouchard will likely have a list full of accolades by the time he is done playing and looks like a perennial contender for the James Norris Memorial Trophy.
Already etching his name next to some of the all-time greats in postseason history, the future is bright for the former first-round draft pick and Oakville, Ontario native.
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