Oilers' Evan Bouchard exercising an all-round game in Ekholm's absence

National Post

27-05-2025

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Evan Bouchard has been a yin without a yang in these playoffs.
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A Lilo without a Stitch.
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Some things just go together, like peanut butter and jelly.
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For the majority of the past two seasons, Bouchard has filled the Edmonton Oilers top defensive pairing alongside Mattias Ekholm.
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And their playing styles are like oil and water, only in the Paula Abdul sense of opposites attract.
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Bouchard's offensive-minded blue-line duties have kept him No. 3 in team points behind Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl— quite a feat for any forward, let alone a defenceman. And it was Ekholm's stay-at-home-style of defensive play that allowed for that dynamic, as the two complemented each other on the ice.
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It just worked. Well, for the most part, anyway. Bouchard still suffered from defensive gaffs, which only seemed to be highlighted whenever Ekholm was out of the lineup. And this year, that meant for most of the playoff stretch, as he has yet to suit up for a game this post-season.
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But here's the thing. Despite Ekholm's absence, Bouchard has been taking on a leadership role at both blue lines, as the defensive unit has banded together like nobody's business to cut down on scoring chances, block shots and deliver some physical domination the likes of which Edmonton fans haven't seen in decades … if ever.
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Sure, opposing teams have earned their fair share of goal against the Oilers in these playoffs. They sit third-most among playoff teams with 41, behind the Toronto Maple Leafs (42) and their Western Conference final opponents, the Dallas Stars (50). But they have also posted a trio of Stuart Skinner shutouts along the way, not to mention Sunday's 6-1 win in Game 3.
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And along the way, Bouchard has also kept up his offensive prowess, currently tied for the team lead with Draisaitl at six playoff goals apiece, and third in points with 17.
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That gives Bouchard 19 goals in 67 playoff games, with his next one potentially putting him in illustrious company with Paul Coffey (48 games), Brian Leetch (49), Bobby Orr (50), Dennis Potvin (52), Al MacInnis (70) and Paul Reinhart (70) games, who reached the milestone in 70 games or fewer.
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Four of those goals came in back-to-back pairs in Games 3 and 4 to help the Oilers tie their opening-round series against the Los Angeles Kings 2-2. Otherwise their quest for the Cup might have been over almost as soon as it started.
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'I think he's playing the way I've always said that he is,' said Ekholm, who is looking to make a return to the lineup at some point against the Stars. 'He's really taken on the defensive role too, right? He's always had the knack for offence, the knack for scoring, but I think that the way that he's been defending right now has been amazing.