EDMONTON — Just how many truly undisputed, top-tier No. 1 defencemen are there in the National Hockey League right now?
The list of elite defencemen is short, perhaps starting with names like Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Zach Werenski, moving towards talents such as Lane Hutson and Victor Hedman, and including players like Josh Morrissey and Shea Theodore.
While a few others could be added, one thing is certain: there aren`t 32 legitimate No. 1 defencemen for the 32 NHL teams. It`s questionable if there are even more than about 16.
So, when a team possesses a 6-foot-3 right-shot defenceman who excels at quarterbacking the power play, can handle 27 minutes of ice time when necessary, is an elite puck distributor, boasts the hardest shot in the league, and whose performance elevates in high-pressure situations – and they let him walk – what happens?
The Edmonton Oilers would immediately be searching for a replacement for Evan Bouchard. And they simply wouldn`t find one.
Therefore, General Manager Stan Bowman made the correct decision. While ideally seeking an eight-year commitment, he successfully signed the 25-year-old Bouchard to a four-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $10.5 million.
Bouchard is indeed a legitimate No. 1 defenceman, and his new contract reflects that status.
Historically, defensive awareness was considered the main aspect preventing Bouchard from being universally ranked among the NHL`s top three defencemen or being a shoo-in for Team Canada.
However, his performance undeniably elevates in the playoffs, including improvements in his defensive play, demonstrating his ability to deliver his best when it matters most.
Looking at the past four regular seasons, Bouchard ranks ninth in points (232), 22nd in plus/minus (+64), and tenth in points per game (among players with 250+ games) at 0.71.
Let`s compare his performance in the last four post-seasons:
- Points: First with 81
- Games Played: Tied for second with 75
- Goals: First with 20
- Assists: First with 61
- Power-play Goals: First with eight
- Power-play Points: First with 38
- Shots on Goal: First with 212
During the playoffs, a defenceman possessing Bouchard`s combination of skating, composure under pressure, and elite puck-moving skills can be the crucial difference between a good team and a Stanley Cup contender.
While Edmonton hasn`t won the Stanley Cup in the last two Final appearances (and yes, Bouchard had a challenging Game 6 under the intense pressure from the Florida Panthers), ultimately, his overall impact elevates the team`s performance significantly. He isn`t Shea Weber, but honestly, who in the league is today?
Furthermore, on an Oilers power play featuring generational talent Connor McDavid, reigning Rocket Richard winner Leon Draisaitl, and one of the league`s premier net-front presences in Zach Hyman, having a masterful passer paired with the league`s hardest shot quarterbacking from the point is an undeniable asset.
Here are the NHL leaders for shots recorded between 90-100 m.p.h. last season, according to statistics:
| Player | Shots between 90-100 m.p.h. |
|---|---|
| Evan Bouchard | 74 |
| Victor Hedman | 61 |
| Jake Walman | 44 |
| John Carlson | 40 |
He also ranks in the 99th percentile for shots between 80-90 m.p.h. and 70-80 m.p.h. This means while another player might record the single fastest shot, Bouchard consistently delivers higher velocity shots than any other defenceman in the league, game in and game out.
Given the Oilers` offensive firepower up front, there`s rarely a scenario where retaining their most dynamic defenceman wouldn`t make sense. However, as the 10th overall pick from 2018, Bouchard`s new contract becomes a significant component of the team`s salary structure, utilizing 11 percent of the Oilers` cap space.
Should Connor McDavid sign a hypothetical $17 million extension this summer, starting in the 2026-27 season, the combined cap hit of the captain, Draisaitl, and Bouchard could approach 37 percent – over one-third of Edmonton`s total cap. This is the cost of rostering elite talent, and these significant salaries could potentially lead to Bouchard playing in a different jersey colour someday.
But that day is not today, nor will it be during the next four seasons.
The Edmonton Oilers secured Evan Bouchard on Monday for a simple, undeniable reason: It would have been illogical not to.
