Bouchard led defensemen and ranked second in the league with four goals and four assists in three outings, helping the Oilers earn five of six possible points to open the 2026-27 NHL season.
He opened the campaign with a hat trick and two assists in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 29, becoming the first defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a season opener as well as the third blueliner to register a hat trick in such a game (also Mark Howe in 1980-81 w/ HFD and Bert Corbeau in 1919-20 w/ MTL).
Bouchard then posted a goal and two assists in a 9-7 win against the Canucks on Oct. 1 to become the first defenceman in League history with at least eight points through his team’s first two contests of a season.
The 26-year-old Bouchard, who closed the week with 27:01 and a +1 rating in a 3-1 triumph over the Seattle Kraken on Oct. 3, has compiled 80 goals and 261 assists for 341 points through 432 career NHL games – highlighted by career highs in goals (21), assists (74) and points (95) last season (82 GP).
