HIGHLIGHTS
- Evan Bouchard is staying in Oil Country
- The defenceman has secured a 4-year, $42 million extension
- Read below for the full story
The Edmonton Oilers have granted Connor McDavid’s wish.
The Stanley Cup finalists have re-signed defenceman Evan Bouchard to a four-year contract extension worth $42 million. He’ll make a whopping $10.5 million per season:
While McDavid refused to say in exit interviews if he’ll re-sign with the Oilers ahead of free agency next year, he made it crystal clear that Edmonton must bring back Bouchard, who sees as a key piece to the puzzle in their pursuit of a title:
“Every time there’s a big game or a big moment, he shows up. That’s a skill that not everybody has,” McDavid said. “Does he make some boo-boos every now and then in November? Sure. We all do. But his game has been just improving year after year. It seems like month by month, he just gets better and better.
“He’s incredibly important to the group. Definitely a deal that needs to get done and one that is really important for us.”
Needless to say, the Oilers gave McDavid exactly what he wanted. Bouchard may not have the best defensive skills, but he’s a very important part of this squad offensively. The 25-year-old tallied 23 points in 22 playoff appearances in 2025. Bouchard also led Edmonton in average ice time.
He was an RFA, so any offer Bouchard would’ve received, the Oilers could’ve matched it. He’s led all defencemen across the league in points over the last three postseasons. Bouchard scored 14 times and supplied 53 helpers in the regular season, too.
He complements the star duo of McDavid and Draisaitl well, though Bouchard can play in any situation. He’s a versatile player for the Oilers and one who will be crucial as Edmonton looks to finally make their Cup dreams become a reality in 2026.
