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Undervaluing What Bouchard Means to the Oilers

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Mar 3, 2026 12:04 AM ET

If you look at what’s actually happening on the ice lately, it’s pretty hard to ignore how important Evan Bouchard has been to the Edmonton Oilers.

I was going through the team’s last 10 games at even strength, just focusing on Grade A chances for and against, and Bouchard jumped off the page. Not in a flashy, end-to-end, highlight-reel way like Cale Makar, but in a steady, “why is no one talking about this more?” kind of way.

Bouchard Leads Oilers Defencemen in Offensive Contributions

In roughly 190-plus even-strength minutes over that stretch, Bouchard led all Oilers defencemen in major offensive contributions — and it wasn’t close. He’s creating or contributing to high-danger looks at more than double the rate of the next blue-liner. That’s not random. That’s repeat involvement. He’s consistently in the middle of the good stuff when Edmonton generates real chances.

What’s more impressive is the balance.

We all know the knock on Bouchard: great offensively, but can he defend well enough? Fair question. But over this stretch, he’s not just piling up chances — he’s coming out well ahead in the Grade A chance differential, too. He’s generating far more than he’s giving up. For a defenceman who plays big minutes and pushes the pace, that matters.

Bouchard Plays Heavy Minutes in All Situations

Bouchard plays heavy minutes in tough situations. Despite that workload, his mistake rate isn’t through the roof. He’s not this reckless, high-risk rover constantly putting his team in trouble. The numbers don’t back that up. He takes chances, sure — but they’re calculated, and more often than not, they tilt the ice in Edmonton’s favour.

I think part of the reason he doesn’t get enough credit is stylistic. He’s not overly emotional. He’s not crushing guys every shift. He’s not screaming at the bench. He just moves the puck, jumps into space, and keeps plays alive. It’s subtle, but it drives offence.

Having a Blueliner Like Bouchard Is Huge for the Oilers

For a team that leans heavily on its stars up front, having a defenceman who can consistently feed that attack at even strength is massive. Bouchard isn’t just along for the ride — he’s helping steer the ship.

Underrated? Yes. Replaceable? Not a chance.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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