Evan Bouchard lock a no-brainer for oilers

Edmonton-er are how much undisputed, no-questions-apped, no. 1 defenders in the National Hockey League today?

It is a list that starts with Cale Makar, continues to Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski, winds to Lane Hutson and Victor Hedman Territory and settles in the Josh Morrissey district, Shea Theodore.

There are a handful of more, but we know for sure: there are no 32 legitimate no. 1 defenders for 32 NHL teams. We don’t even know for sure if there are more than 16.

So if you have a six-foot-three, right-shot defender who can play your power play, play 27 minutes when needed, who is an elite mover of the puck and the most difficult shot in hockey possesses still not to mention a player whose game comes up with the importance of the moment and you let him get away, guess?

So general manager Stan Bowman did exactly what he should have done, so that the 25-year-old Bouchard seduced an eight-year-old deal, but settling with half of that period for a four-year contract that bears an average annual value of $ 10.5 million.

Bouchard is a legitimate no. 1 defender, and from today he will be paid as a.

Defensive consciousness is the only area that Bouchard has always separated from consideration as a top-three NHL defender or an invitation for Team Canada.

But when the play -offs arrive, Bouchard’s defensive game rises together with the rest of his game, making Bouchard undeniably a player who keeps his best for when that is most needed.

In the past four regular seasons, Bouchard Ninth is in points (232), 22nd in Plus/Min (Plus-64) and 10th in points per match (among those who have played 250 games) with 0.71.

Now let’s do the last four after the season:

• Points: First with 81

• Games played: in second place bound with 75

• Assistes: First with 61

• Power play goals: first with eight.

• Power play points: first with 38

• shots on goal: first with 212

When the play-offs arrive, it is the difference between having a good team and having a Stanley Cup.

Edmonton may not have succeeded in the last two finals – and yes, Bouchard had a terrible game 6 under the immense pressure of the Florida Panthers – but in the end his game brings you much more to the top than the other direction. No, he is not a shea weber. But look around in the competition and tell me who is?

And on an Oilers PowerPlay that houses the magical Connor McDavid, the reigning Rocket Richard Trophy -Winner Leon Draisaitl and one of the NHL very best Netto front men in Zach Hyman, with a sublime passer -by, indeed a luxury in Hockey.

Here are the NHL leaders last season for most shots between 90-100 km / h last season, Courtesy Sportsnet Stats.:

It is also in the 99th percentile in Schoten between 80-90 MPH and 70-80 km / h, so although one player can fire a singular that is at the top of the charts, the Bouchard Die-Game after the game, season after season-the Puck fires with a faster speed than any other defender in the game today.

There will probably never be a reason why the Oilers would not keep their most dangerous defender, to be in the front with the arsenal of the oilers. Now, however, the 10th overal is also a huge part of the salary structure, which eats 11 percent of the Oilers cap.

If Connor McDavid signed for $ 17 million this summer, when the 2026-27 season starts, the captain, Draisaitl and Bouchard could eat 37 percent, or more than a third of Edmonton’s cap. It is the price of having good players, and one day those salary figures can be the reason why Bouchard ends up in a sweater with colors other than blue and orange.

But not today, or in the next four seasons.

The Edmonton Oilers locked Evan Bouchard on Monday for a very simple reason: because they would be crazy not to do it.