The Edmonton Oilers’ 2023–24 season got off to a rough start. They had a lot of expectations going into the upcoming season and were favored to win the Stanley Cup. Even though they’ve had a sluggish start and are currently trying to move up the Pacific Division, they still have a quality team, so they shouldn’t be written off just yet, despite their extremely disappointing record. defensemen Evan Bouchard, who appeared to be a purely offensive defensemen with serious defensive problems, is one player who has received harsh criticism from a large number of fans.
Bouchard was notorious for his serious defensive mistakes before to Woodcroft’s dismissal, but he made up for it by exploding offensively to open the season and hasn’t slowed down at all. He only needed some improvement on his end. His skills with the puck on his stick are exceptional. As the defensemen have all improved since Coffey arrived, it appears that he has made it his job to support Bouchard as well as the others. Fans are hopeful that Bouchard, in particular, can maintain his strong play at both ends of the rink. He has distinguished himself as the largest improvement.
What Effect Has Bouchard’s Development Had on the Oilers?
This season, Bouchard has been a vital player on the offensive end for the Oilers, producing
It has helped Bouchard immensely playing alongside Mattias Ekholm, who the Oilers acquired from the Nashville Predators last season, as his confidence has gone up and he doesn’t seem to always be putting pressure on himself like he has been for the past couple of seasons. With his defensive game being the focus of the new coaching staff, the Oilers have had fewer issues with him on the ice and have found themselves using him in more scenarios than they ever have because of Bouchard’s improvements.
