{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox ice hockey biography | name = Evan Bouchard | image = Evan Bouchard.jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = Bouchard with the Bakersfield Condors in 2020 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|10|20}} | birth_place = Oakville, Ontario, Canada | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 192 | position = Defence | shoots = Right | league = NHL | team = Edmonton Oilers | prospect_team = | prospect_league = | former_teams = | ntl_team = CAN | draft = 10th overall | draft_year = 2018 | draft_team = Edmonton Oilers | career_start = 2018 | career_end = }} '''Evan Bouchard''' (born October 20, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Bouchard was selected 10th overall by the Oilers in the 2018 NHL entry draft.
==Playing career==
===Junior=== [[File:Evan Bouchard - London Knights.jpg|thumb|left|Bouchard with the London Knights in 2016]] Bouchard was drafted in the first round, 17th overall, in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection by the London Knights.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehockeywriters.com/evan-bouchard-2018-draft-value/|title=Evaluating Evan Bouchard (His 2018 NHL Draft Value)|date=March 2, 2018|work=The Hockey Writers|access-date=March 5, 2018}}</ref> He helped London capture the J. Ross Robertson Cup and 2016 Memorial Cup in his first year with the organization. Bouchard was named captain of the Knights for the 2017–18 OHL season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Knights name Evan Bouchard captain|url=http://ontariohockeyleague.com/article/knights-name-evan-bouchard-captain|website=ontariohockeyleague.com|access-date=March 8, 2018|date=January 12, 2018}}</ref> At the conclusion of the year, Bouchard was named a finalist for the Max Kaminsky Trophy as defenceman of the year and the Red Tilson Trophy as most valuable player of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).<ref>{{cite web|title=OHL Announces 2017-18 Awards Finalists|url=http://ontariohockeyleague.com/article/ohl-announces-2017-18-awards-finalists|website=ontariohockeyleague.com|access-date=April 5, 2018|date=April 4, 2018}}</ref>
===Professional=== Bouchard was selected in the first round, 10th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2018 NHL entry draft.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Matheson |first1=Jim |title=Edmonton Oilers take Evan Bouchard in first round of NHL Draft |url=https://edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/edmonton-oilers/edmonton-oilers-hold-10th-pick-in-first-round-of-nhl-draft |website=Edmonton Sun |access-date=June 22, 2018}}</ref> A few weeks later on July 17, 2018, the Oilers signed Bouchard to a three-year, entry-level contract.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oilers sign 2018 first-round draft pick Evan Bouchard |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/oilers-sign-2018-first-round-draft-pick-evan-bouchard/ |website=sportsnet.ca |access-date=July 18, 2018 |date=July 17, 2018}}</ref> On October 25, Bouchard became the youngest Oilers defenceman in history to record a goal when he scored in a 4–1 win over the Washington Capitals. He had turned 19 five days before the game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Evan Bouchard makes Oilers history in win over Capitals|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/evan-bouchard-makes-oilers-history-win-capitals/ |website=sportsnet.ca |access-date=October 26, 2018 |date=October 25, 2018}}</ref> After seven games with the Oilers, he was returned to the Knights on November 2.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oilers send defenceman Evan Bouchard to OHL Knights |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/oilers-send-defenceman-evan-bouchard-ohl-knights/ |website=Sportsnet |access-date=November 2, 2018}}</ref> Despite only skating in 45 games for the Knights during the 2018–19 season, Bouchard recorded 16 goals and 53 points. He added another 21 points in 11 games during the OHL postseason. On April 25, 2019, Bouchard was named the winner of the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the league's top defenceman.<ref name="KaminskyTrophy">{{cite web |title=Knights' Evan Bouchard Named OHL Defenceman of the Year |url=http://ontariohockeyleague.com/article/knights-evan-bouchard-named-ohl-defenceman-of-the-year |website=Ontario Hockey League |access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref>
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on the American Hockey League (AHL), he spent part of the 2020–21 season with Södertälje SK of Sweden's HockeyAllsvenskan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Edmonton Oilers' Evan Bouchard back from Sweden and knocking on NHL door|url=https://edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/edmonton-oilers/edmonton-oilers-evan-bouchard-back-from-sweden-and-knocking-on-nhl-door |last=Matheson |first=Jim |newspaper=Edmonton Sun |access-date=June 7, 2022 |date=May 2, 2022}}</ref> He then joined the Oilers for the shortened regular season, though it was noted that he had some difficulty getting ice time despite solid play.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Edmonton Oilers Need to Find Playing Time for Evan Bouchard|url=https://puckprose.com/2021/03/13/oilers-need-find-playing-time-evan-bouchard/ |last=Pankiw |first=Colton |website=Puck Prose |access-date=June 7, 2022 |date=March 13, 2021}}</ref>
In the 2021–22 season, Bouchard solidified his place in the roster, managing 12 goals and 31 assists in 81 regular season games, pairing alongside future Hall of Famer Duncan Keith, while also leading the team's second power play unit.<ref>{{cite news|title=Evan Bouchard: The Next Klefbom|url=https://oilonwhyte.com/2022/05/10/oilers-bouchard-next-klefbom/ |last=Truswell |first=Tanner |website=Oil on Whyte |access-date=June 7, 2022 |date=May 10, 2022}}</ref> 35 of his points came at even strength play, ranked 14th among NHL defencemen.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oilers regular season report card for 2021-22 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3287288/2022/05/02/oilers-regular-season-report-card/ |last=Mitchell |first=Allan |website=The Athletic |access-date=June 7, 2022 |date=May 2, 2022}}</ref> The Oilers qualified for the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, making a deep run to the Western Conference final before losing to the Colorado Avalanche.<ref>{{cite web |title=Despite disappointing exit, Oilers learn valuable lessons from Avalanche |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/despite-disappointing-exit-oilers-learn-valuable-lessons-from-avalanche/ |last=Spector |first=Mark |website=Sportsnet |access-date=June 7, 2022 |date=June 7, 2022}}</ref>
On August 24, 2023, Bouchard signed a two-year, $7.8 million contract extension with an AAV of $3.9 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=RELEASE: Oilers sign Bouchard to two-year extension |url=https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/release-oilers-sign-bouchard-to-two-year-extension-345650974 |access-date=July 1, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=August 24, 2023}}</ref> Bouchard's offensive production doubled in the 2023–24 season, registering career highs in scoring with 18 goals and 64 assists for a total of 82 points, finishing fourth in the league among defencemen. He set a league record in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs for assists in one playoff year by a defenceman with 26, surpassing Paul Coffey, who himself obtained the record in 1985 as a member of the Oilers.<ref name=":0" />
On June 30, 2025, Bouchard signed a four-year, $42 million contract extension with an AAV of $10.5 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=RELEASE: Oilers sign Bouchard to four-year contract extension |url=https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/release-oilers-sign-bouchard-to-four-year-contract-extension |access-date=July 1, 2025 |website=NHL.com |date=June 30, 2025}}</ref> On January 24, 2026, his 400th game, Bouchard scored his first NHL hat-trick against the Washington Capitals in a 6–5 overtime win, becoming the first Oilers' defender to score three since Marc-André Bergeron, just over 20 years ago.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bouchard has 6 points, McDavid scores OT winner for Oilers against Capitals |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/washington-capitals-edmonton-oilers-game-recap-january-24-2026 |access-date=January 25, 2026 |website=NHL.com |date=January 24, 2026}}</ref><ref name="orr2025">{{cite web |title=Oilers' Evan Bouchard joins Bobby Orr in exclusive club |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/oilers-evan-bouchard-joins-bobby-orr-in-exclusive-club/ |access-date=January 25, 2026 |website=Sportsnet.ca |date=January 24, 2026}}</ref> He factored in on all six goals, setting a career high in goals and points in a single game, as well as becoming the first Oilers' defenceman to have a six-point game since Paul Coffey did so on March 14, 1986.<ref name="orr2025" /> He also joined Bobby Orr as the only defenceman in league history to have six points and eight shots in a single game.<ref name="orr2025" /> On March 26, Bouchard scored the overtime winner against the Vegas Golden Knights, marking his 20th goal of the season. The goal made him the fourth Oilers' defenceman to reach 20 goals in a season, with the others being Coffey, Charlie Huddy, and Sheldon Souray.<ref>{{cite web |title=Skater Records, Defensemen, Most Goals, Season |url=https://records.nhl.com/edm/records/skater-records/scoring-plateaus/most-consecutive-20-or-more-goal-season |access-date=March 29, 2026 |website=NHL.com}}</ref> On April 8, Bouchard registered his 90th point of the season, joining Coffey as the second Oilers' defenceman to reach 90 points in a season.<ref>{{cite web |last=Spector |first=Mark |title=Otherworldly McDavid helps Oilers bolster lead in Pacific Division |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/otherworldly-mcdavid-helps-oilers-bolster-lead-in-pacific-division/ |access-date=April 9, 2026 |website=Sportsnet.ca |date=April 9, 2026}}</ref> Bouchard would lead all defencemen in points at the end of the season, with 95. The Oilers would end up losing to the Anaheim Ducks in six games in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Arritt |first1=Dan |title=Ducks win Game 6, eliminate Oilers in Western 1st Round |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/edmonton-oilers-anaheim-ducks-game-6-recap-april-30-2026 |website=NHL.com |access-date=April 30, 2026 |date=April 30, 2026}}</ref> Despite his efforts, Bouchard was not a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the defenceman voted the best at his position by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dahlin, Makar, Werenski named Norris Trophy finalists |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/norris-trophy-finalists-for-best-defenseman-for-2025-26-announced-by-nhl |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 7, 2026 |date=May 7, 2026}}</ref>
==International play== On December 3, 2018, Bouchard was loaned to Canada junior team to compete for a roster spot on their 2019 World Junior Championships team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bouchard, Formenton, Foudy Named to team Canada Selection Camp |url=http://londonknights.com/article/bouchard-formenton-foudy-named-to-team-canada-selection-camp |website=londonknights.com |access-date=December 25, 2018 |date=December 3, 2018}}</ref> On December 25, Bouchard was named an alternate captain for Canada, along with Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Ian Mitchell, for the 2019 World Junior Championships.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ducks prospect Comtois named captain for Canada at World Juniors |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/max-comtois-named-canada-captain-for-world-junior-championship/c-303257050 |website=NHL.com |access-date=December 25, 2018 |date=December 25, 2018}}</ref>
On May 5, 2026, Bouchard and Oilers teammate Darnell Nurse were added to Canada senior team's roster for the 2026 World Championship, which was Bouchard's senior debut for his country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bouchard, Nurse to join Canada for men's World Championship |url=https://www.tsn.ca/hockey-canada/article/bouchard-nurse-to-join-canada-for-mens-world-championship/ |website=TSN.ca |access-date=May 7, 2026 |date=May 5, 2026}}</ref> Following an illegal check to the head by Ryan Lindgren in an eventual 4–0 quarter-finals win against the USA on May 28, Bouchard left the game and was unable to play for the remainder of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canada D Bouchard to miss remainder of men’s worlds, Oilers GM Bowman confirms |url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/oilers-gm-confirms-bouchard-will-miss-remainder-of-mens-worlds/ |website=TSN.ca |access-date=May 29, 2026 |date=May 29, 2026}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs=== Figures in '''''boldface italics''''' are NHL records for defencemen. {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2014–15 | Oakville Blades | OJHL | 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2015–16 | London Knights | OHL | 43 || 2 || 15 || 17 || 24 | 10 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 2 |- | 2016–17 | London Knights | OHL | 68 || 11 || 33 || 44 || 24 | 14 || 3 || 4 || 7 || 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2017–18 | London Knights | OHL | 67 || 25 || 62 || 87 || 54 | 4 || 1 || 4 || 5 || 6 |- | 2018–19 | London Knights | OHL | 45 || 16 || 37 || 53 || 40 | 11 || 4 || 17 || 21 || 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018–19 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 7 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2018–19 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | — || — || — || — || — | 8 || 3 || 5 || 8 || 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2019–20 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 54 || 7 || 29 || 36 || 42 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2020–21 | Södertälje SK | Allsv | 23 || 6 || 11 || 17 || 76 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2020–21 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 14 || 2 || 3 || 5 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 2021–22 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 81 || 12 || 31 || 43 || 28 | 16 || 3 || 6 || 9 || 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2022–23 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 || 8 || 32 || 40 || 28 | 12 || 4 || 13 || 17 || 4 |- | 2023–24 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 81 || 18 || 64 || 82 || 32 | 25 || 6 || '''''26''''' || 32 || 22 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2024–25 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 || 14 || 53 || 67 || 32 | 22 || 7 || 16 || 23 || 8 |- | 2025–26 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 || 21 || 74 || 95 || 30 | 6 || 1 || 6 || 7 || 0 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 429 !! 76 !! 257 !! 333 !! 154 ! 81 !! 21 !! 67 !! 88 !! 38 |}
===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 2015 | Canada White | U17 | {{gold1}} | 6 || 1 || 5 || 6 || 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2016 | Canada | IH18 | 5th | 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- | 2019 | Canada | WJC | 6th | 5 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 0 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2026 | Canada | WC | 4th | 8 || 1 || 5 || 6 || 0 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 15 !! 1 !! 8 !! 9 !! 4 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4"|Senior totals ! 8 !! 1 !! 5 !! 6 !! 0 |}
==Awards and honours== {| class="wikitable" ! Award ! Year ! Ref |- ! colspan="3"|OHL |- | Max Kaminsky Trophy | 2018–19 | <ref name="KaminskyTrophy" /> |- ! colspan="3"|AHL |- | All-Star Game | 2020 | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://theahl.com/bracco-liljegren-added-to-all-star-roster |title=Bracco, Liljegren added to All-Star roster |publisher=American Hockey League |date=January 26, 2020 |access-date=February 1, 2020 |archive-date=January 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130165725/https://theahl.com/bracco-liljegren-added-to-all-star-roster |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! colspan="3"|NHL |- | Third Star of the Month | 2025–26 | <ref>{{cite web |title=Kucherov leads 3 Stars of the Month for January |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/kucherov-pastrnak-bouchard-named-3-stars-of-month-for-january-2026 |access-date=February 2, 2026 |website=NHL.com |date=February 1, 2026}}</ref> |}
==Records==
===NHL=== * Most assists in one playoff year by a defenceman – 26 in 2024<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Kerney |first1=Caleb |title=Evan Bouchard Shatters Paul Coffey Record |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/evan-bouchard-shatters-paul-coffey-record |website=The Hockey News |access-date=November 28, 2024 |date=June 20, 2024}}</ref> * One of two defencemen in league history to have six points and eight shots in a single game (the only other being Bobby Orr)<ref name="orr2025" />
===Oilers=== * Latest regulation goal - 0.5 seconds, against Ottawa Senators<ref>{{cite web |url=https://records.nhl.com/edm/records/skater-records/late-goals/latest-goals-regulation-period-nhl-history| title=Latest Goals, Regulation Period}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Ice hockey stats}} * {{OHL profile|7103|Evan Bouchard}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before = Kailer Yamamoto | title = Edmonton Oilers first-round draft pick | years = 2018 | after = Philip Broberg}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bouchard, Evan}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen Category:Bakersfield Condors players Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Sweden Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen Category:Edmonton Oilers draft picks Category:Edmonton Oilers players Category:Ice hockey people from Oakville, Ontario Category:London Knights players Category:NHL first-round draft picks Category:Södertälje SK players