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Edmonton Oilers Finally Lock In Veteran Star Following Uncertainty

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jun 30, 2025 5:28 PM ET

Evan Bouchard was in line for a massive new deal with the Oilers this off-season, and now, he's reportedly inked a huge four-year deal to remain with the team.

The Edmonton Oilers are on the verge of something special with this current core, but heading into the 2025 off-season, they had some potentially franchise-altering decisions to make.

Now, one of those has officially been made, as reports have now come in that defenseman Evan Bouchard has inked an extension with the team, carrying a $10.5 million salary cap hit over four years.

The 25-year old came off another impressive Stanley Cup Playoffs run with plenty of leverage, and now, he's become one of the highest paid defenseman in the NHL, and with just a four year deal, he sets himself up for another massive deal before his career comes to an end.

In the past two seasons, Bouchard has tallied 32 goals and 117 points in the regular season, adding 13 goals and 42 points in their last two post-season runs, and given how important he is to this team overall, it's safe to say that both parties wanted to get a deal done.

Now, the Oilers can focus on making some major changes in the off-season, and with limited salary cap space, General Manager Stan Bowman will have to get creative if he wants to shake up this core the way he's expected too.

Ultimately, this was a solid deal for both Bouchard and the Oilers team, and given how important he is to this squad and their Stanley Cup hopes, they'll now be confident heading into the 2025/26 season as they look to finally get over the final hump.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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