Value of: Oilers Trade Bouchard

[missionAvs]

I pitched a similar idea like a year ago for the Avs in that they should trade MacK for more center depth.

 

[HuGort]

Oilers NEED to fix the D-core and they should trade Bouchard while his value is high.

Oilers don't need the offensive D-man, they need more shut-down Defensemen. Oilers have enough fire power up front that they can trade Bouchard.

I would also love to trade Nurse, but his cap is what will keep him in Edmonton. So the Oilers need to trade Bouchard so they don't make the same mistake they did signing Nurse to the terrible contract.

So, my question is, What top Shut-down D-man can the Oilers get??
(of course other assets would be included)

He will probably be offer sheeted this summer. Where Oilers in caphell. ie. Broberg

 

[Skolman]

He will probably be offer sheeted this summer. Where Oilers in caphell. ie. Broberg

You believe a team is going to give up 2 1st round picks, a 2nd round pick, and a 3rd round pick for Bouchard? Because that's what it would take to get him out of Edmonton.

Not to mention that would be a team with a fair bit of cap space, so most likely one that's not a serious contender.

 

[trojansoilers]

Have we already forgotten how we spent the entire decade of darkness trying to find a halfway decent offensive d-man?

 

[Fatass]

Bouchard for Broberg?

 

[miscs75]

Bouchard for Seth Jones. Just for the cap chaos it would cause.

 

[CanadienShark]

Yes, Bouchard is a great Offensive D-man but that isn't what the Oilers need. They need Shut-down D-men.

Regarding the PP, any D-man can take his place. Get the puck to the forwards and your points go up. Does he have a killer shot, Yes. But his terrible defensive play out weighs the good.

Oilers need strong Defensive D-men. They have enough fire power up front to score goals. Get D-men who can stop the grade A chances that are being presented.

I like the one reply that Montreal could be a trading partner.
Maybe Oilers get Savard, Xhekaj +

If Montreal could swing that, we'd be absolutely robbing Edmonton. Guhle would be the perfect partner for Bouchard.

 

[Fourier]

You believe a team is going to give up 2 1st round picks, a 2nd round pick, and a 3rd round pick for Bouchard? Because that's what it would take to get him out of Edmonton.

Not to mention that would be a team with a fair bit of cap space, so most likely one that's not a serious contender.

I'd be surprised if that level of compensation would get it done. Even with a bump next year that is probably around $9.5M tops. And that is assuming the deal is 5 years or less. The Oilers match that pretty easily I would expect. So realistically it would take 4 firsts at probably $10M+ on a long deal.

If Montreal could swing that, we'd be absolutely robbing Edmonton. Guhle would be the perfect partner for Bouchard.

I think you may have found the one Oiler fan (???) who might have been interested in that deal unless that + is by far the core part of the deal.

 

[CanadienShark]

I'd be surprised if that level of compensation would get it done. Even with a bump next year that is probably around $9.5M tops. And that is assuming the deal is 5 years or less. The Oilers match that pretty easily I would expect. So realistically it would take 4 firsts at probably $10M+ on a long deal.


I think you may have found the one Oiler fan (???) who might have been interested in that deal unless that + is by far the core part of the deal.

Yep, that's an absurdly low price for Bouchard.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

Yeah I'd love going back to not having a PMD. Who needs zone exits, transitional play or a powerplay quarterback?

I think they'll have to move a contract like Kulak's or Henrique's.

You can't deal Bouchard. He is a RHD, top pairing, young, ppg, home grown and developed, pretty much impossible to replace.

I also wanted to move him last year but that would've been a mistake and there was no one available that could take his minutes.

Yeah Kulak is next for the block. Should be Nurse but we all know for a number of reasons that isn't happening.

 

[Fourier]

Yep, that's an absurdly low price for Bouchard.

The OP's premise that the Oilers don't need Bouchard is simply wrong. In today's NHL a high end offensive defenseman is crucial to take advantage of your offensive potential. Bouchard's presence opens up both space and opportunities for the forwards that they did not have years past. There is also a false narrative that he is a defensive liability. His defensive game has improved immensely over the last few years, but he is also very capable of getting the puck out of the zone something that a lot for traditional defensive defensemen struggle with.

For all of the flack the Oilers defense takes since the Ekholm trade they have been one of the best teams in the league in keeping the puck out of their own net even with at best league average goaltending. Bouchard and Ekholm as a pair have been fantastic at both ends of the ice. They complement one another extremely well. Even with the teams rather brutal start Bouchard still has a 5 vs 5 GF% of 60%. Of course this is not an individual stat. But over the last year plus if you look at his WOWY numbers with and without each of McDavid, Draisaitl and Ekholm he is well above water.

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/linestats.php?fromseason=20232024&thruseason=20242025&stype=2&sit=5v5&score=all&rate=n&team=EDM&vteam=ALL&view=wowy&loc=B&gpfilt=none&fd=2024-10-04&td=2025-04-17&tgp=2000&strict=incl&p1=8480803&p2=8478402&p3=8475218&p4=8477934&p5=0

 

[Drake1588]

The defense is both bloated and thin at the same time, due to the Nurse contract. So it's certainly true that the team needs to fix its defense. There's two players there you want (Bouchard, Ekholm) and one you definitely don't at his salary (Nurse), and then the rest are placeholders they could let go and replace without batting an eye at the loss. That's super thin and it's probably not easily fixed mid-season. The summer is more fluid and you'll gain cap room with the expected cap bump.

If you deal Bouchard, you need to go out and find a guy who does exactly what he does. You'll pay his replacement a healthy salary, and you might have to give up assets in the trade (and they've already dealt their futures). You'll end up right where you started, only older at the key No. 1 defense position.

Kulak returns and he's fine at his salary. That's four. Stetcher on the third pairing or bench isn't too bad. Five.

Trading from among the forwards and adding a steady top-four defenseman, either in the trade or with the cap savings, would seem to be the way to go. Then add a better 6/7 to round out the group of seven.

The cost is dealing the last year on contract of someone like Kane, Arvidsson, or Henrique in the offseason to free up the cap room. You'd like to keep RNH.

 

[HuGort]

You believe a team is going to give up 2 1st round picks, a 2nd round pick, and a 3rd round pick for Bouchard? Because that's what it would take to get him out of Edmonton.

Not to mention that would be a team with a fair bit of cap space, so most likely one that's not a serious contender.

Oilers can't match 10 million. It's only a 1,2,3.

 

[DJJones]

Flames will take him and nurse for futures. Assuming he agrees to an extension

I'm actually not even sure that's enough for nurse haha

 

[abj]

Bouchard meant to the Oilers. Zero chance for replacement.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

Josi(2 million retained over 4 years) brings him to 7.06

For

Bouchard
Podkolzin
Edmonton 2026 1st

 

[TS Quint]

Oilers offense is impotent. Why trade one of the few players McDrai has a use for? RNH, Hyman, Ardvisson, and Skinner should be on milk containers "Missing:have you seen these boys"

 

[spaghtti]

Oilers can't match 10 million. It's only a 1,2,3.

I would match $10 million if I were the Oilers and figure out the money later

And for your info $10 million would only be years or less

 

[LTIR]

I pitched a similar idea like a year ago for the Avs in that they should trade MacK for more center depth.

Hardly comparable. Bouchard is closer to prime Barrie than a top5 NHLer of current time. Points are deceiving.

 

[Soundwave]

Oilers offense is impotent. Why trade one of the few players McDrai has a use for? RNH, Hyman, Ardvisson, and Skinner should be on milk containers "Missing:have you seen these boys"

lol same crap was said last year. Oilers are just on a unsustainably low shooting % (2nd worst in the league) bender and the PP% is bottom 5 in the league.

Neither of those things are going to last.

For Expected Goals For % the Oilers are near the top of the league, so that will even itself out.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I'm surprised this hasn't been something you got criticism for. Why would you make a title that makes it sound like he got traded?

 

[DearDiary]

I'm surprised this hasn't been something you got criticism for. Why would you make a title that makes it sound like he got traded?

Not all of us air our criticisms out in public. I've now sent OP 6 private messages regarding this matter that he has yet to release a response or statement to. Once I've gotten confirmation on his intentions and thoughts, I will be sure to let you know.

 

[Bank Shot]

lol same crap was said last year. Oilers are just on a unsustainably low shooting % (2nd worst in the league) bender and the PP% is bottom 5 in the league.

Neither of those things are going to last.

For Expected Goals For % the Oilers are near the top of the league, so that will even itself out.

Dumb fans love their hot takes.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Why would you make a title that makes it sound like he got traded?

yeah I think the same thing every time it gets bumped

 

[Skolman]

Oilers can't match 10 million. It's only a 1,2,3.

You're wrong.

It's 2 1sts, a 2nd, and a 3rd.