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'I've fallen in love', says Leafs homer of Oilers' D-man
Photo credit: NHL
According to an article in the Edmonton Journal today, Jeff O'Neill has 'fallen in love' with Oilers' defenseman Evan Bouchard, then further boasting on TSN's OverDrive, that Bouchard is among the league's best defenseman.
"In that segment of OverDrive, a show that O'Neill co-hosts with Chris Hayes and former NHL goalie Jamie McLennan, O'Neill said, 'I got a bit of a crazy statement after watching last night (game 1) and watching throughout the playoffs...I think the pecking order on D in the NHL is one, Cale Makar, and two, Bouchard."
That is some high praise indeed. I can list a handful of NHL defenseman who've already staked their claims as the NHL's best. Yet, it seems that Bouchard has indeed arrived, judging from his performance in this year's playoffs.
OverDrive co-host McLennan also claims that playoff Bouchard is a different beast altogether from the regular season version, and says that what he's seeing, is a guy who can play in all scenarios and doesn't get overwhelmed'.
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal, in his article today, said that long before his breakout season, in which Bouchard scored 82 points (2023-24), he predicted that Evan would hit 90 points, and long before others, he claimed Bouchard would be the Oilers' number one d-man.
It seems that Bouchard is, ion fact, playing at an even higher level of strength efficiency, while running Edmonton's brilliant powerplay, and even settled the penalty kill in the Kings' serious, when it was faltering.
According to journalist David Staples, it became clear early on that Bouchard - more than any other Oilers' d-man we'd ever seen - was able to create grade A shots. His defense had been average in past years, but he's always been a grade A, shot-producing monster.
What's changed, then, for Bouchard in these past years? He's become a good to great positional d-man who can almost always make the right read, keep his body between his check and the Oilers' net, and get the puck out of trouble.
If Evan Bouchard can continue to perform at this level, well, he may just very well belong in the conversation as one of the NHL's best defenseman.
Previously on Washington Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
JUIN 6 | 19 ANSWERS 'I've fallen in love', says Leafs homer of Oilers' D-man Do you agree with Jeff O'Neill that Evan Bouchard is one the NHL's best defenseman? | ||
| Yes | 13 | 68.4 % |
| No | 6 | 31.6 % |
| List of polls | ||