Evan Bouchard Is Lighting It Up - But Team Canada Isn’t Biting (Yet)
Let’s get one thing straight: Evan Bouchard is on fire. Over his last 15 games, the Edmonton Oilers defenseman has been playing some of the best hockey of his career - and frankly, some of the best we’ve seen from any NHL blueliner this season.
He’s racked up eight goals, 15 assists, 54 shots on goal, and a sparkling plus-12 rating over that stretch. That’s not just a hot streak - that’s elite-level production from the back end.
To put it in historical context, Bouchard closed out January with 23 points - the most in a single month by an Oilers defenseman since Paul Coffey went off for 27 points way back in March 1986. That’s nearly 40 years ago. When you’re being mentioned in the same breath as Coffey, you’re doing something right.
And it’s not just the stat sheet - it’s the moments. On January 24 against the Capitals, Bouchard delivered a performance for the ages.
A hat trick, three assists, a plus-5 rating, and a 6-5 overtime win. That kind of night is rare air for any defenseman, let alone one still carving out his legacy.
He became the first Edmonton defenseman in two decades to notch a hat trick, and he did it with style.
Then came January 29 against San Jose. With the Oilers down late, Bouchard tied the game with just 59 seconds left in regulation.
In overtime, he set up Connor McDavid for the game-winner, capping off another three-point night. Clutch plays, big-time contributions - this is the version of Bouchard Edmonton has dreamed of.
So Why Isn’t He Headed to the Olympics?
That’s the question echoing around the NHL right now. Despite his recent surge, Bouchard was left off Team Canada’s roster for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
The opening ceremony is just days away, and the men’s hockey tournament kicks off February 11. Canada’s eight defensemen?
Drew Doughty, Thomas Harley, Cale Makar, Josh Morrissey, Colton Parayko, Travis Sanheim, Shea Theodore, and Devon Toews. No Bouchard.
And while it might seem like an oversight given his current form, the decision didn’t come out of nowhere.
Earlier in the season, Bouchard’s defensive play was, to put it kindly, inconsistent. He led all NHL defensemen in points, sure, but his play in his own zone left a lot to be desired. Costly giveaways, missed assignments, and untimely lapses - especially in high-leverage moments - made it tough for Team Canada’s brass to justify bringing him along.
It wasn’t just the occasional misstep. Through October, November, and into December, Bouchard struggled to string together clean defensive performances.
For a team like Canada, where the margin for error at the Olympics is razor-thin, that kind of unpredictability is a tough sell. The stakes are sky-high, and trust is everything - especially on the blue line.
Turning the Corner?
To his credit, Bouchard has responded. Over the last few weeks, his defensive game has tightened up noticeably.
He’s making smarter reads, limiting turnovers, and showing a commitment to the details that coaches love. It’s clear he recognized the need for improvement - and he’s putting in the work.
But here’s the thing: this isn’t the first time we’ve seen Bouchard raise his defensive level. The question is whether he can sustain it. For all the offensive brilliance he brings - and there’s a lot - the next step in his evolution is about consistency on the other side of the puck.
That’s what separates good defensemen from great ones. The ability to bring it every night, in every zone, against every matchup.
The Long View
Bouchard is 26. That’s still relatively young in defenseman years.
Many of the game’s top blueliners didn’t fully hit their stride until their late 20s - and once they did, they held that level well into their 30s. There’s no reason Bouchard can’t follow that same path.
He’s not heading to Milan this time around, but that doesn’t mean his Olympic window is closed. Far from it. If he continues to build on this stretch and rounds out his defensive game, there’s every reason to believe he could be wearing the Maple Leaf in 2030 - or even 2034.
For now, though, Bouchard will keep doing what he’s doing in Edmonton - playing a starring role on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. And if he keeps this up, Team Canada might not be able to leave him off the next time around.