Evan Bouchard scored his 20th goal of the season on Thursday night. The overtime winner gave the Edmonton Oilers a much-needed win as they are treading water heading into the playoffs, and the win keeps them afloat in a Pacific Division that’s up for grabs.
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With 20 goals and 84 points, the question is whether Bouchard can win the Norris Trophy? Sure, many fans will immediately discredit him as a candidate, and it’s understandable. Bouchard is a flawed defenseman, and the Norris goes to the most complete player at the position. That said, he’s making a great case to win it.
Bouchard Has The Offense & a Compelling Narrative
The trophy is historically awarded to the defenseman with the most points or impressive numbers offensively. It’s why there have been seasons where offensive-minded defensemen will win it despite their defensive woes. Erik Karlsson is the case in point as he cleared the 100-point mark in the 2022-23 season despite playing poorly on the defensive end on a terrible San Jose Sharks team.
Bouchard has the offense to win the Norris and, more importantly, is making a big difference with his scoring. Many look at the Oilers and their offense and say that any defenseman can score from the point when they have plenty of skill on the forward unit. Bouchard, however, takes the Oilers to the next level with his ability to find the back of the net and set up the offense from the point.
Not only has he scored 20 goals but he’s scored significant ones as well, whether it’s the overtime winner against the Vegas Golden Knights or a goal in the final minute to force overtime. Bouchard has allowed the Oilers to win games they should have lost.
That leads to the other part of his argument, which is the narrative. While the Oilers aren’t a good team this season, and that can be held against him, the argument is that he’s played a bigger role in their success. With Leon Draisaitl out for the final two months of the season, Bouchard has been tasked with stepping up and contributing more in all facets. The Oilers without him aren’t close to the playoffs, which shows how valuable he is.
Bouchard’s Defense Issues Hold Him Back
It’s hard to look at Bouchard’s case without looking at the defensive issues. It’s why some fans want him traded or (a greater extreme) moved to forward. The breakdowns or misplayed pucks come with his aggressive mindset but they’ve resulted in costly goals, and this season, the Oilers can’t afford them.
Some stats and data support Bouchard as a reliable player on the defensive end. His 5.3 defensive point shares are among the best in the NHL, and he’s averaging over 24 minutes of ice time every game, which shows the confidence the Oilers have in him in all situations. It’s why Bouchard often divides the analytics crowd with the visual and in-game coverage crowd.
In the bigger picture, Bouchard wasn’t selected to the Canadian Olympic team because of his defense. Yes, he could have scored a big goal, but he could have given one up as well. It shows how the league views him and, to an extent, how the voters will see him at the end of the season. Without question, Bouchard is one of the most exciting defenseman in the game but not the best and certainly not the most complete.
How Bouchard Stacks Up in the Norris Conversation
Bouchard can put together a strong finish to the season and to make himself a finalist. However, it’s a two-player race right now. Cale Makar won the award last season and is putting together another impressive season on the best team in the league. Zach Werenski is the best player on the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have turned their season around and are in a playoff spot.
Those two will likely split first-place votes. After that, there’s a tier of defensemen who are putting together great seasons who can all end up as finalists by season’s end. Rasmus Dahlin is playing at high level on a Buffalo Sabres team that has become the story of the season. Quinn Hughes has turned the Minnesota Wild into a juggernaut since he was traded there earlier in the season. Moritz Seider might be the best shutdown defenseman in the NHL.
Bouchard fits into that tier right now. He’s finishing the season strong and making a good case for the Norris but it will still take a lot for him to sway voters. That said, it’s hard to deny the value he brings to the Oilers lineup every night as a key part of their success in a season where they need him.
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