‘The big thing for me is consistency’: Evan Bouchard wants to evolve his game over length of new contract with Oilers

While he might have hit the jackpot, one of the Edmonton Oilers’ top blueliners knows he still has room to grow.

On Monday, defenceman Evan Bouchard re-signed with the Oilers, a four-year contract with an AAV of $10.5 million that will walk him to unrestricted free agency at the end of the 2028-29 season.

The deal was a big priority for general manager Stan Bowman, who knew keeping the right-handed blueliner with the booming shot was vital if the team wanted to stay successful in the near future.

However, despite proving to be an offensive weapon over the past couple of years, including scoring a career-high 82 points during the 2023-24 season, Bouchard says he’s focused on trying to improve on the defensive side of the puck.

“I think definitely that’s a big thing,” Bouchard told the media on Tuesday. ” I think over the past season or two, I’ve really focused on the defensive side of things, especially later on in the season, come playoff time. That’s the most important thing is to keep the puck out of the net. So, I think my game is just going to keep getting better, keep growing on both sides.”

The 25-year-old was asked where he would like to see his game by the end of his new contract. While he admitted it’s difficult to project the type of player he’ll be in four years, Bouchard wants to be a reliable asset every night.

“It’s hard to think about the end of the contract. It hasn’t even really started yet. For next season, the big thing for me is consistency. The highs could be high, but the games you’re not feeling it so much, not having them be very low. So, I think consistency is going to be a big thing for me next season and going forward.”

Though he still has some learning to do, Bouchard has quickly become an important member of the core in Edmonton, with an extra level of importance of how he performs on and off the ice.

The Oakville native wants to be the type of player who leads by example.

“I think just comfort. I know I’m not going to be the loudest one in the room, yelling and doing all that stuff, but I do want to be able to lead with my play on the ice. … To do that, I just got to find the balance of consistency for myself and if I can stay consistent, that’s the best way that I can help lead the team.”

One of the notable mentors for the young rearguard has been Mattias Ekholm. The veteran was brought into the fold leading up to the 2023 trade deadline and has been a calming presence on what has been an oft-scrutinized D-corps.

Bouchard stated that the Swedish blueliner has been someone he can lean on throughout the past couple of years.

“He’s a role model for me,” Bouchard said. “Ever since he came in, he’s been great with me. Harping on me if something goes wrong. Just keep playing. Keep trying to make that play. He says he’s going to be there to back me up, and I want him to feel the same way. So for him, he gives me a lot of confidence to do what I want to do out there, and it’s a great part of it to have.”

The way Bouchard has been progressing, he’ll be in the same realm of importance as Ekholm has been with the Oilers and the Nashville Predators before that soon enough. While the term on his new contract might not be long, there’s a good chance that Bouchard is considered one of the NHL’s top defencemen by the end of it.