With the playoffs for the Stanley Cup in mind, all teams are working towards strengthening their strengths and compensating for their weaknesses. For the Edmonton Oilers, scoring has hardly ever been a problem, but its unpredictable defense, particularly Evan Bouchard’s, has become a hot-button issue. NHL pundit Mark Spector fueled such controversy when he criticized Bouchard’s poor defending and argued that, for Edmonton to make a meaningful run, he will have to “figure it out.”
Bouchard, known for possessing a first-class offensive brain, has been a polarizing figure in the Oilers fandom. That he can run a power-play unit and contribute offensively cannot be argued, but that he has strong defensive awareness and decision-making has been questioned for a long, long time. Analytics can paint a picture of a strong defender, but high-leverage errors in high-leverage playoff hockey and the eye test have questioned him in high-leverage playoff environments as he mentioned that “Evan Bouchard has more to give. He is elite enough to expect the whole package more often than he delivers it. If Edmonton is going to take the final step, he’s going to have to ‘figure it out.’”
Evan Bouchard has more to give.
He is elite enough to expect the whole package, more often than he delivers it.
If Edmonton is going to take the final step, he’s going to have to “figure it out.” https://t.co/8k1LRnka5i
— Mark Spector (@SportsnetSpec) February 4, 2025
Spector’s criticism isn’t new, at least not for Bouchard, who’s criticized for being out of position in his zone and having a problem with physicality and positioning when confronted with more challenging opponents. That manifested in the Edmonton Oilers’ recent loss when mistakes in defense cost them key games. As valuable as his offensive presence, not being able to defend high opponents consistently could become a big weakness in the playoffs.
With head coach Kris Knoblauch’s system valuing defensive soundness, the Oilers will need improvement out of Bouchard. Having Mattias Ekholm’s presence bails him out at times, but in a grueling playoff environment, having one defenseman shoulder too much of a burden could become an issue. Unless Bouchard corrects, he could become a sore point in an otherwise championship-caliber roster.
A larger defensive issue for the Edmonton Oilers?
While Bouchard has received a lot of criticism, Edmonton’s blue-line problem runs deeper than one individual player alone. Defensive depth and continuity have been a problem for the Oilers all season, with Darnell Nurse, Brett Kulak, and Cody Ceci having received criticism in addition to him. With optimized blue pairings, Edmonton’s blue line is a work in progress.
The Nurse-Kulak pairing hasn’t been reliable, and John Klingberg hasn’t yet delivered hoped-for dividends. With the trading deadline closing in, every one supposes a reliable two-way blue-liner must be inserted in for Edmonton to make a playoff run. With no strong blue-chip base, even Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s wizardry with the puck won’t necessarily be enough to beat deeper-defense opponents.
Another factor contributing to compounding the Edmonton Oilers’ issue is goalie uncertainty. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have played well, but neither can assure that they can pace a team deep into the playoffs with an untrustworthy group in front of them regarding defending. Until and unless Bouchard and the rest of the Oilers’ blueliners can tighten up, Edmonton will have a problem with high-scoring offenses like Colorado, Vegas, and Dallas.
With Edmonton in position for a playoff run deep, it will be up to Bouchard and the blue line to shut down and become a little less sloppy in big scenarios. As critical as offensive production will be, mistakes in big scenarios will make all the difference between a championship and an early playoff exit. With enough scoring but a leaky defense, championship aspirations will go out in a puff of smoke in an instant. As the trading deadline nears, the Oilers’ brass will have to choose whether to have faith in its present group of defenders or make a move to add reinforcements.
If Bouchard can rise to a new level and become a full-fledged blueliner, Edmonton could at long last make that ultimate move towards a Stanley Cup championship. But if the same problem continues, the Edmonton Oilers will again stand idly by and witness a different group celebrate a championship in June.
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