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Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Oilers in Trouble No Matter How They Handle Bouchard’s Contract

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Jackson Scherger | Last updated Apr 1, 2025 9:35 AM ET

A hot topic of conversation all season for the Edmonton Oilers has been contracts. While the contract most fans are focused on is the one Connor McDavid is due by next summer, Evan Bouchard‘s deal is set to expire after this season. He will be a restricted free agent with a lot of eyes on him and what his next deal will be. The speculation of what Edmonton’s top defenceman will ask for has run amok through the fan base.

As we wait for the two sides to begin talking and more information to be unveiled, it needs to be addressed that there may be issues inbound no matter which way the negotiations go. Usually, there are only problems one way when it comes to signing your top defenceman, however, the Oilers are in a unique scenario, as we will come to see. We have not heard much of anything from the Oilers themselves about what the numbers look like, how any discussions have gone, or things like that. Regardless, there may be trouble abound no matter what comes next.

If Bouchard Re-Signs With the Oilers

Oilers fans would love nothing more than to see Bouchard locked up on a long-term deal. Despite a bit of a down year on offence and some struggles defensively, the potential is there to be the number one option on Edmonton’s blue line for a long time. Management will surely do as much as they can to retain Bouchard, and while it would be great if they did, there are some possible repercussions.

No doubt if the homegrown defenceman can play to his full potential, any deal he signs will be worth it; however, that is a big “if”. In what is likely to be a deal over $10 million with a healthy term, the Oilers would now be committed to two defencemen at a price tag over $9 million (Darnell Nurse), and three over $6 million (Mattias Ekholm). While it is good to invest in your blue line, it is a delicate subject when you are also trying to build a strong forward core around two of the best talents in the world.

What makes the contract especially challenging for Edmonton’s management is the recent precedent set by NHL defencemen. Jakob Chychrun signed an eight-year, $72 million extension with the Washington Capitals just a week ago. And while Chychrun’s stats are solid, he does not quite compare to Bouchard and his level of play. A right-shot defenceman like Bouchard doesn’t come around all that often, and the Oilers will have to pay to keep him around.

If Bouchard Heads Elsewhere

This would be a problem for everyone in Edmonton. While Bouchard heading to another team would free up some cap space to explore other options, it complicates things further for Oilers’ management. Not only is he hard to replace as the team’s number one defender, but it would also potentially upset the top stars on the team. Leon Draisaitl just signed a new eight-year extension last offseason, and as mentioned earlier, McDavid will be seeking a pay raise next July. Letting go of a pillar on the blue line does not send a good message to the faces of your franchise.

Another problem to consider is what the team would be left with. While veterans like Nurse and Ekholm are good to have, it will take a lot more than that to compete for a Cup. Taking away any team’s defensive points leader and power play quarterback is a huge problem. And looking at the upcoming free agent class, there isn’t a justifiable option for management to replace a player like Bouchard with. Fans can say what they will about his tough year, but he would be missed dearly by everyone in the city.

Oilers general manager Stan Bowman will begin to feel the pressure as the season winds down for his team and the time for contract talks begins. Teams will surely be chomping at the bit to get their offers in if he lets negotiations drag on too long with Bouchard. It didn’t take the St. Louis Blues long to throw offers at two players the team waited too long to sign last summer, and we all know how that story ends.