Evan Bouchard’s breakout season with the Edmonton Oilers is about to make things really interesting for the team’s wallet.
The 25-year-old defenseman has been lighting it up this year, putting up 37 points in just 50 games – including eight goals and 29 assists.
But here’s where it gets tricky: Bouchard’s contract is up after this season, and he’s reportedly looking for big money.
How big? Sources say he wants somewhere between $9 million and $10 million per year.
That’s not just a raise – it’s a massive jump that would put him in the same neighborhood as some of the NHL’s elite defensemen. It would even push him past teammate Darnell Nurse’s salary.
The numbers certainly back up his value. Throughout his career, Bouchard has racked up 208 points in 315 games, including 49 goals. That’s pretty impressive for a defenseman.
He’s become the quarterback of Edmonton’s power play, making things happen from the blue line with the kind of offensive skills that don’t come around often.
But there’s some debate about whether he’s worth that kind of money. While stats show him as one of the league’s top two-way defenders, not everyone’s convinced he’s in that elite tier yet.
For the Oilers, this creates a real headache. They’re already dealing with a tight salary cap, and adding another huge contract could make things really tough down the road.
The question now is whether they can find a sweet spot that keeps both sides happy – and keeps Bouchard in Edmonton for the long haul.
