Oilers say Bouchard deserves more recognition as 'elite' defenseman

EDMONTON -- Evan Bouchard continues to make his case as an elite NHL defenseman, a label his Edmonton Oilers teammates feel he's deserved for quite some time.

In fact, they believe the 26-year-old should be a leading candidate to win the Norris Trophy this season.

"He's special. He's special on both sides, and that part a lot of people don't see," forward Leon Draisaitl said at the NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour last month. "I watch him every single day, I watch every second and he's really, really special.

"He's as elite at it gets, and I know he doesn't get the recognition from a lot of people. But I know a hockey player when I see one, and he's elite."

Bouchard had a hat trick and two assists in Edmonton's season opener, a 6-5 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place on Tuesday. He became the first defenseman in NHL history to have a five-point game in a season opener, and the first to score three goals since Mark Howe accomplished the feat with the Hartford Whalers to start the 1980-81 season.

Offensively, the numbers support Bouchard. He has 338 points (79 goals, 259 assists) in 431 regular-season games, including 95 points (21 goals, 74 assists) in 82 games last season. Bouchard has 88 points (21 goals, 67 assists) in 81 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, helping the Oilers reach the Cup Final in back-to-back seasons (2024, 2025).

In the season opener Tuesday, he scored Edmonton's first two goals, then had a goal and two assists, including on Vasily Podkolzin's power-play goal with 43 seconds left, to help erase a 5-2 deficit and force overtime.

"It was one of those nights, but without those guys in front (of the net), none of those are going in," Bouchard said. "(Zach Hyman) was battling, (Vasily Podkolzin) is always battling in front, and those guys, without them, they wouldn't go in."

In the past, Bouchard has taken criticism for his defensive game and turning the puck over. But Oilers captain Connor McDavid doesn't believe that should overlook all the positive things Bouchard provides in his own zone.

"Everyone loves to comment on the boo boos, but he makes 1,000 great plays; it's the little details that I would say people may miss," McDavid said. "It's the subtle little plays that he makes that are so good, and then of course he can make the great play too. So, he's a great player and we're lucky to have him here."

Bouchard finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting last season behind winner Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets), Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) and Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres). 

He was also left off Team Canada's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in February, when it lost 2-1 in overtime to Team USA in the gold medal game.

"He's an elite defenseman and he doesn't get enough credit," McDavid said. "He's a special, special player. He's asked to do everything; he plays big minutes, plays on the penalty kill, plays 5-on-5 and power play, you name it, he does it.

"He's a leader in that room, he really is. It's taken him a while to kind of come into his own, but you can tell this year he's just got a different kind of aura about him and just seems confident and comfortable in who he is and what he's doing, and he's been great."

Bouchard, who was named an alternate captain at the start of Oilers training camp last month, said he's hoping to elevate his game to another level under new coach Mike Babcock. The 63-year-old has a reputation for holding his players accountable.

"I think he made it clear he doesn't want to change things with my game, but he wants to improve things, and I think that's a very fair thing," Bouchard said. "And having him around the League for a long, long time, I want to be coached by someone like that.

"I want someone that tells me what they think, and I think he's going to do that for myself and the rest of the group."

The Oilers will still have 81 games remaining after they host the Seattle Kraken on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, Prime Video, KONG), plenty of chances for Bouchard's teammates to further prove what they've felt for years.

He's hoping his play will be enough to sway members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association when it's time to vote on the Norris Trophy. No Oilers defenseman has won it since Paul Coffey did so in back-to-back seasons (1985, 1986).

"For me, it's kind of doing a lot of the same things, but a lot of improvement as well, keeping the puck out of out of the net when I'm out there," Bouchard said. "I think the offense will come, but most importantly, focus on the defensive side of things."

NHL.com senior director of editorial Shawn P. Roarke contributed to this report