The Edmonton Oilers have confronted ups and downs to begin their season. Dropping the primary three video games in lackluster performances, they’ve come again to win their two most up-to-date video games. The Oilers are hoping they’re discovering their groove. However not everybody has discovered their footing but. Notably, defender Evan Bouchard has struggled immensely up to now this season.
Coming into the season with Norris Trophy hopes, Bouchard has seemingly fallen flat. Often called an offensive defenseman, he has struggled to copy his postseason level manufacturing. He has one level in 5 video games, a purpose in a gritty win towards the Philadelphia Flyers. That places him on tempo for less than 16 factors this season. The expectation is that he’ll decide up his tempo of manufacturing, nevertheless it’s an enormous drop-off from the place he was final season.
It’s not simply Bouchard’s offensive struggles which were hurting the Oilers. His lack of puck management and consciousness has confirmed pricey, steadily resulting in giveaways in harmful areas. In simply 5 video games, Bouchard has already turned the puck over ten instances, placing him on tempo for a staggering 164 giveaways this season. If he retains it up, it could be the highest quantity of giveaways in a single season in NHL historical past.
Chopping Bouchard Some Slack
The silver lining is that it’s nonetheless early within the season, and Bouchard isn’t the one one struggling — your entire workforce has had a gradual begin. At simply 24 years outdated, he’s nonetheless growing into an elite defenseman, and errors are a part of the method. Nevertheless, Bouchard must step up quickly, as he’s a key issue within the Oilers’ success shifting ahead.
Bouchard’s contract is up on the finish of the season and he’s acquired loads of incentive to proper his sport. With preliminary stories suggesting he might earn near $10 million a yr, he wants a efficiency price that sum of money.
Though Bouchard has fallen in need of expectations this season, he stays a extremely expert defenseman able to reaching a historic level tempo. With over 70 video games left, he has loads of time to show issues round. His place because the Oilers’ prime defender isn’t in jeopardy, however he wants to search out his kind quickly — beginning with Saturday’s matinée rematch of the Western Convention Finals towards the Dallas Stars.
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