On Tuesday night, the Edmonton Oilers once again allowed four or more goals and faced a two-goal deficit entering the third period, before staging a comeback to defeat the Ottawa Senators in overtime. The victory was fueled by the team’s leading players, prominently Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, with Bouchard scoring the game-winning goal.
Draisaitl Highlights Bouchard’s Impact in Critical Moments
Leon Draisaitl was instrumental in the contest, contributing two goals and three assists, including key involvement in all five Oiler goals. Evan Bouchard also made a significant impact, recording one goal and one assist, both during the most pivotal moments of the game. Following the match, Draisaitl praised Bouchard’s level of play, aligning him with some of the NHL’s top defensemen.
Draisaitl’s High Praise for Bouchard Among NHL Defensemen
Draisaitl remarked on Bouchard’s standing in the league:
“Yeah, I mean, he’s as good as it gets in the league. You know, he’s up there with the Makar’s, the Hughes. He does it his way — it might not be as flashy as those guys, but he gets it done, and he is one of the best defensemen in the league. He has been for a few years now, and obviously this year I think he’s taken another step, which, yeah, is amazing to see,”
— Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers center
Bouchard’s Season Performance and Contract Details
At 26 years old, Evan Bouchard has amassed 71 points (18 goals, 53 assists) in 62 games this season, leading all NHL defensemen in scoring and ranking 12th overall among players at any position. This season marks the first year of his four-year, $42 million contract extension signed with the Oilers as a restricted free agent this summer.
Balancing Criticism and Recognition of Bouchard’s Contributions
While Bouchard has faced occasional criticism for errors and periods of inconsistent effort, his statistics speak to his elite status. Maintaining a pace near 94 points over a full season from the blue line is exceptional. Notably, after starting the season without scoring in six straight games, he delivered an impressive surge of productivity.
Comparisons With Other Elite Defensemen and Norris Trophy Contention
Some observers hesitate to compare Bouchard directly with defense stars such as Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski, or Rasmus Dahlin—given the impact of playing alongside teammates like Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid—but his numbers are difficult to dispute. Few defensemen generate this level of offensive output, placing Bouchard firmly in conversations about the Norris Trophy this season, awarded to the NHL’s best defenseman.
“There’s a lot of positives tonight for sure, but there’s also still some things we need to clean up.”
Leon Draisaitl speaks after his five-point night in the #Oilers 5-4 OT victory over the Senators.
@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/2jw5D0cp0e— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 4, 2026
