Yahoo Sports Oilers' Have Big Steal On Their Blueline
EDMONTON -- "It's like taking candy from a baby."
Stealing is wrong. Most cultures and governments see stealing as wrong. However, the Edmonton Oilers have a few contracts right now that are absolute steals.
Leon Draisaitl has one more year at $8.5-million and is a lock for at least 100 points. Zach Hyman has the potential to be a point per game player again making $5.5-million. Stuart Skinner is a top-10 goalie in the league who could move himself into Vezina conversations this year. He is only earning $2.6-million for this year and the season after.
View the original article to see embedded media.
But the Oilers biggest steal right now is sitting on their blue line.
Evan Bouchard is a point per game defenseman who is just getting started. The 24-year-old led all defenders in playoff scoring with 32 points. He was also second among all skaters in scoring, behind only his teammate Connor McDavid.
Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
While he was incredible in the playoffs, his regular season play wasn't anything to scoff at. Bouchard finished with 82 points in 81 games, 18 of those points were goals.
In 2023-24 Bouchard played 23 minutes a night, 3:27 of that spent on the power play. Compared to the year previous, his power play points went from 13 to 35.
Giving a player more ice time is usually a recipe for added production. In 2022-23, Bouchard played 18:31 a night. Tyson Barrie was a mainstay on the top power play unit for the majority of the year. It wasn't until after the trade deadline that he was really given a chance on the man advantage.
To get a defender like this, for only $3.9-million is astonishing. Point-per-game defenders don't grow on trees. But to have one who is making less than a million dollars more than Cody Ceci, is borderline criminal.
The unfortunate thing for the Oilers (and the fans) is that this is the last year of Bouchard at that price. Next off season he becomes an arbitration-eligible RFA. It would probably be in the team's best interest to sign him before he potentially explodes for a 100-point season this year.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss news, interviews or any other updates on the Oilers.
Related: Oilers Are Now a Popular Trade Destination
Related: Oilers Have Exciting New Trade Options With Flames
Related: Oilers Have Huge Interest From Free Agent
Related: Insider Shares Big McDavid Contract Update
