The list of defensemen who can average a point per game is rather limited in the National Hockey League. In 2023-2024, this list has grown by at least one name: Evan Bouchard.
The Edmonton Oilers defenseman is having an exceptional season so far, his fifth in an Alberta jersey. If we ignore his first two seasons, in which he only played seven and 14 games, this is a third “real” season in Edmonton.
Since Connor McDavid's arrival with the Oilers, only once has a team defenseman managed to break into the top 10 of the NHL's top point scorers among backcourt players. During the 2020-2021 “Covid season,” Tyson Barrie scored 48 points in 56 games, an NHL high.
Otherwise it was absolutely quiet.
At least until 2023-2024, because with 32 points in 29 duels, Bouchard is currently in fourth place in the ranking of the league's most productive defenders, behind Quinn Hughes (41 points), Cale Makar (39 points) and Noah Dobson (33 points). Career trajectory similar to that of Bouchard.
Regardless, Bouchard is just eight points away from matching his point total of 40 points in 82 games in the 2022-23 season. His best offensive season was 2021-2022 with 43 points.
The team's new assistant coach, Paul Coffey, believes Bouchard has what it takes to dominate this league in the long term.
“I expect a player picked 10th overall to be a good player,” Coffey, one of the most dominant offensive defensemen of his generation, told the NHL website. We designed Bouch from London. Before he turned pro, I went ice skating with him and he has everything.”
Essential element from the start of the game
The reality is that a defender will typically often take longer to slip than an attacker. Bouchard was no exception.
“When I came in I told him he can't show up after ten minutes, we need him from the start. And he did it, said Coffey, who took office Nov. 12 after the firing of head coach Jay Woodcroft and assistant Dave Manson.
“His talent is limitless and some of the things he does cannot be taught. You have to let him go, let him play. It has nothing to do with me. He’s a good player and he’s only going to get better.”
And if there's anyone who can fully understand Bouchard's role, it's Coffey, who spent seven seasons with the Oilers between 1980 and 1987, scoring 100-plus points three seasons in a row.
Bouchard is maintaining a pace of 90 points for now. Will he be able to continue his momentum? Can he get even closer to the 100-point plateau? Let's say he's in the right spot in Edmonton with players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.