Evan Bouchard Is Taking His Game to Another Level, and the Oilers Are Reaping the Rewards

Who knew that the secret to unlocking the best version of Evan Bouchard was simply putting an A on his chest?

The Edmonton Oilers defenceman has come out flying this season, and it’s not just the offensive numbers that are turning heads. Bouchard looks like a different player in all three zones, and the added responsibility of wearing an alternate captain’s letter seems to be bringing out another side of his game.

He’s scoring, making plays, and controlling the game offensively. But what’s really stood out is the effort away from the puck. Bouchard looks more committed defensively, he’s throwing his weight around more, and he’s playing with an edge that Oilers fans have wanted to see consistently. He’s not just trying to outscore his mistakes anymore. He’s setting the tone.

And the early numbers are ridiculous. According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, the Oilers have outscored their opponents 11-1 at five-on-five with Bouchard on the ice. That’s the kind of impact that goes beyond putting up points on the power play. He’s helping Edmonton win the minutes that matter, and the results are following.

Friedman even shared a funny exchange from someone who had been watching Bouchard’s hot start. With people already discussing whether he could enter the Norris Trophy conversation, one person had an even bigger idea: Bouchard for the Rocket Richard Trophy.

Obviously, the Rocket Richard Trophy is awarded to the NHL’s leading goal scorer, so that suggestion was made in jest. But it says something about just how impressive Bouchard has looked early in the season. He’s producing at an incredible rate, and Friedman raised another interesting question: what’s stopping him from reaching 100 points this year if he keeps playing like this?

A 100-point season would be an enormous achievement for a defenceman, but Bouchard has already shown that he can put up elite offensive numbers. Playing alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl gives him plenty of opportunities to produce, especially on the power play. If he continues to generate offence at this pace while improving his defensive game, the conversation around his overall value could look very different by the end of the season.

The biggest difference, though, might not show up on the scoresheet. It’s the backchecking, the physicality, and the willingness to get involved when things get chippy. Those are the details that can separate a talented offensive defenceman from a player a team can rely on in every situation. If Bouchard can maintain that level of commitment throughout an 82-game season, Edmonton will be a much tougher team to play against.

Of course, it’s still early, and maintaining this pace over an entire NHL season is a different challenge altogether. But there’s plenty to like about what we’re seeing from Bouchard right now. He’s playing with confidence, taking on a leadership role, and looking more complete with every game.

The Oilers have always known Bouchard could produce offensively. The question has been whether he could consistently bring that same level of intensity to the rest of his game. So far, he’s giving fans plenty of reasons to believe the answer is yes.

If this is what the alternate captain’s letter has unlocked, Edmonton might be watching the best version of Evan Bouchard yet. And if he keeps this up, the Norris Trophy conversation might not sound so ridiculous after all.