- Oilers GM Stan Bowman gave the first real update on Evan Bouchard after the scary Lindgren hit
- Bouchard is out for the rest of Worlds but “doing well,” per Bowman
- Read below for the full quote, audio from Oilers Now, and video of the hit
The news on Evan Bouchard is better than it looked.
Oilers GM Stan Bowman went on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer Thursday night and gave the first real read on his star defenseman a day after Ryan Lindgren knocked him out cold at the World Championship. The bottom line: Bouchard is done at the tournament, but he’s OK.
Bowman was asked what kind of contact he’s had with Bouchard and Hockey Canada since the hit:
“Kyle Dubas has been very proactive, given as soon as the play happened, he texted me, and I’ve been texting with Evan as well, so we’re in touch with him. He’s injured, but he’s doing well. Thankfully, it’s not worse than it was, but clearly it was a terrible hit. Disappointing to see that happen. Thankfully, it’s May, and we’ve got a long time until training camp.”
Here’s the audio clip from Oilers Now:
Bouchard won’t suit up in either of Canada’s remaining games. Macklin Celebrini’s group is into the semis on Saturday and has been a wagon all tournament. Canada is a perfect 8-0-0 in Switzerland.
Through seven games the 26-year-old logged a goal and five assists on the back end and was Canada’s most-used right-shot defenseman. Losing that kind of usage hurts even if Canada looks bulletproof.
Contact came at 6:12 of the first period. Bouchard released the puck just across the blue line and Lindgren stepped up high, catching him in the head. The Oilers blueliner went down immediately and trainers had to help him off the ice.
Lindgren got a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Watch the hit again here:
Canada took the quarterfinal 4-0 to advance and Lindgren, who just finished his first year with the Seattle Kraken, is now staring down possible supplementary discipline from the IIHF.
Edmonton dodged the worst-case outcome on a hit that looked horrific in real time. Our full breakdown of the Lindgren hit has the original reaction and the ejection details. The Oilers have until late September before camp opens.
