Confirmed Signing with Link: [EDM] D Evan Bouchard re-signs with the Oilers (2 years, $3.9M AAV)

[Bounces R Way]

Part of that is because he’s played the 2nd most minutes 5 on 5 in the nhl in that stretch. Another part of it is huge amounts of that is in front of goalies like Jack Campbell and Mikko Koskinen who were just drowning. Fact of the matter is the Oilers significantly outscore the other teams players including their best ones when he is on the ice.

On the flip side of your argument only 2 D have been on for more goals for 5 on 5 in that same stretch.

What they need is a real partner for him. He’s played with guys like Ethan Bear, Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci in his time. Barrie was alright but they had to shelter their minutes with heavy Mcdavid time and easier competition. This was back when they had Larsson who could do heavy lifting on another pair. Bear was ok but shouldn’t realistically be in the top 4 on a legit contender him and nurse happened to have good chemistry and complemented each other nicely but it’s still Ethan Bear. He’ll never be that guy. Same with Ceci albeit it to a lesser extent. Ceci is actually a good player and has reinvented himself as a solid two way guy who can play top 4 minutes and thrive but he’s still not a real top pair D.

I mean if 8 years into his career the team hasn't been able to find a partner that works with him, is that on him or the club? Maybe a bit of both. The Oilers just score a lot of goals. If they had a better #1 dman to throw out there that didn't give up so much it's likely they've already at least made a Final.

Point taken on the goaltending.

Yeah but he's also on ice for a massive amount of GF, always heavily in the + column, so while he gives away a lot he creates a whole lot more, he's one of the best in the league at controlled zone exits and creating transition offense with the puck. Sort of like Draisaitl in a way. He's not good defensively though, no argument there.

Part of that is just the way the Oilers play though. They have McDavid and Draisaitl play deep in the NZ so teams don't want to get caught up ice. Where Nurse is really good is skating the puck out definitely agree with you there but I've never been impressed with his outlet. Ices the puck a lot. Like a lot a lot.

 

[TS Quint]

Good luck with what? This isn't a prediction. I agreed it's very optimistic. I just think you are quick to dismiss it as being outside the realm of the possible.

Across the final 21 games + playoffs (corresponding with Barrie's departure, inheriting the PP1 and a steady mentor in Ekholm), he scored at a rate higher than that.

28 points in 23 games.

As you say 70 points is a huge jump in production if your baseline is a 40 point ~sophomore season.

It is not a huge jump, in fact it's a decline, if your baseline is his production since his deployment dramatically changed more than 1/3 of a season ago.

(Unlike you) I don't pretend to know which Bouchard is the new baseline. It's going to be interesting to play out.

You ok?

 

[Bank Shot]

I mean if 8 years into his career the team hasn't been able to find a partner that works with him, is that on him or the club? Maybe a bit of both. The Oilers just score a lot of goals. If they had a better #1 dman to throw out there that didn't give up so much it's likely they've already at least made a Final.

He's been playing with mostly third pairing guys. Ceci is a decent 4.

Not every team is a blessed as the Calgary Flames who apparently have 5 or 6 top pairing D-men at all times if you listen to their fan base.

 

[Bounces R Way]

He's been playing with mostly third pairing guys. Ceci is a decent 4.

Not every team is a blessed as the Calgary Flames who apparently have 5 or 6 top pairing D-men at all times if you listen to their fan base.

Well sweet jiminy christ you think they would be able to do better for Darnell than Cody Ceci after drafting top 10 so many times in the last 15 years. But go ahead and make stuff up if it helps you feel better.

 

[Bank Shot]

Well sweet jiminy christ you think they would be able to do better for Darnell than Cody Ceci after drafting top 10 so many times in the last 15 years. But go ahead and make stuff up if it helps you feel better.

Team drafting has nothing to do with a player's level of play, but Calgary fans will mention it just to take potshots at the Oilers as they know their team is going nowhere fast. It's a sad state of existence for Flames fans.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Team drafting has nothing to do with a player's level of play, but Calgary fans will mention it just to take potshots at the Oilers as they know their team is going nowhere fast. It's a sad state of existence for Flames fans.

It's okay, they are going to learn what its like to draft in the top 10 for an extended period reaaaalllly soon.

Well sweet jiminy christ you think they would be able to do better for Darnell than Cody Ceci after drafting top 10 so many times in the last 15 years. But go ahead and make stuff up if it helps you feel better.

COdy Ceci is a fine 2nd pairing defenseman. He struggled last year, rumour has it that he played most of the year with some type of core injury that affected his play. The season before, he was really good. It would be nice to have another top pair defenseman to slide in beside Nurse, but the salary cap is a thing, and top pair RD are pretty hard to come by.

 

[Voight]

Member when Yamamoto scored at a point per game for like 25 games in 2019-20 and was deemed untouchable by Oil fans?
ya. howd that turn out

but definitely, a player nearly doubling his career high is a 'conservative' projection.

Good times.

There was also the time Puljujarvi had a good pre season and we were all told to "watch out"

 

[ManofSteel55]

Good times.

There was also the time Puljujarvi had a good pre season and we were all told to "watch out"

Every team has fans that do this.

Member when Yamamoto scored at a point per game for like 25 games in 2019-20 and was deemed untouchable by Oil fans?
ya. howd that turn out

but definitely, a player nearly doubling his career high is a 'conservative' projection.

As an Oiler fan, I never recall Yamamoto being untouchable for any but the most homerish Oiler fans.

 

[bucks_oil]

I don't see 70 points as a homer opinion.

Bouchard scored 36 points in 33 games with Ekholm last season and the playoffs. The team is starting the year much like how it ended

So, for an 82 games that's a pace of 89.4 points, 22.4 goals.

There are no rivals on the Oilers that would take Bouchard's role. I know a 70 point pace is eye rolling because it is extreme, but he's in an extreme position.
The Oilers have had the best PP in history for a couple of seasons now. We just had the 30 year old RNH destroy his total highs with over 100 points.

It would be a homer opinion to say Bouchard will get 100 points because he is young and developing still. 70 is conservative

It's exceptionally optimistic. Nearly everything would have to go right (including no injuries to ANY of our top 4 offensive cogs, including Bouchard).

but your position is not without justification. You aren't projecting it based on "good feels" and other homer vibes, IMO.

I think he's more likely 55-65 range... falling just short.

You ok?

All good, n'you?

 

[TS Quint]

There's reason to believe it. He probably eclipses Ceci as top RD this year. His production after we got Ekholm was 36 points in 33 games (that includes 17 points in 12 playoff games). He will be even better this season. 70 points for Bouchard this season is actually conservative

Just throwing him into somewhere between #2 an 8 in points in the NHL is conservative….. Oiler fans are whipped up right now. Even just saying good luck and wishing some of you the best isn’t good enough. But a “conservative“ 2nd -8th in scoring seems a little over the top. Barrie is a pretty good offensive defenseman and he averaged 56 pts/ 82.

 

[Mr Positive]

Just throwing him into somewhere between #2 an 8 in points in the NHL is conservative….. Oiler fans are whipped up right now. Even just saying good luck and wishing some of you the best isn’t good enough. But a “conservative“ 2nd -8th in scoring seems a little over the top. Barrie is a pretty good offensive defenseman and he averaged 56 pts/ 82.

70 points would have had him 60th in points. And yes, right in the range of Dmen you suggested, at the bottom of it actually. Yes, the number 1 offensive D on the #1 offensive team with the best powerplay in history should end up in that pretty normal rung of top producing D. It's not like I said he'd have Karlsson numbers

And btw, Bouchard is already much better than Barrie, and Barrie would have had more than 56 points if he weren't traded from the Oilers