Evan Bouchard Is Making a Loud Statement-And Team Canada Should Be Listening
When Team Canada announced its Olympic roster on December 31, 2025, eight defensemen made the cut. But one name was conspicuously absent-Evan Bouchard. And since then, all he’s done is go out and produce at a level that’s hard to ignore.
Let’s talk numbers. In the 16 games since that roster was unveiled, Bouchard has racked up 23 points.
That’s not just solid-it’s eye-popping for a blueliner. To put it in perspective, six of the eight defensemen who did make the Canadian roster-Travis Sanheim, Thomas Harley, Shea Theodore, Devon Toews, Drew Doughty, and Colton Parayko-have combined for 23 points over 77 games in that same stretch.
Bouchard’s stat line isn’t just good; it’s dominant.
But this isn’t just about a hot month. This is about a player who’s been building toward elite status for a while now-especially when the lights are brightest.
Over the past two postseasons, Bouchard has been the Oilers’ top defenseman, and it’s not even close. He helped lead Edmonton to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, and his playoff production speaks volumes.
He finished third in scoring across the entire NHL in the 2025 playoffs and second in 2024. That’s not third and second among defensemen-that’s league-wide.
Defensively, he’s been just as impactful when it matters most. In 2025, he led all Oilers in goals plus-minus at +6, sixth overall in the playoffs.
The year before? He topped the league at +14.
That’s the kind of two-way impact that wins games-and series.
Now, it’s fair to say his regular-season defensive play can be a bit uneven. There are stretches where Bouchard’s engagement in his own zone isn’t quite where it needs to be.
But come playoff time, he flips the switch. He’s not just solid-he’s trusted.
So much so that Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch leaned on him heavily during the penalty kill in the 2025 postseason. And Bouchard didn’t just hold his own-he became Edmonton’s most effective PK defenseman.
When you stack it all up, the case becomes hard to argue. After Cale Makar, who’s in a class of his own as Canada’s premier offensive defenseman, Bouchard might just be next in line. He’s not only a high-end offensive weapon from the back end, but he’s also proven he can handle the toughest matchups when it matters most.
So while his name may not have been on that Olympic roster back in December, Evan Bouchard is making sure it’s at the center of the conversation now.