What Exactly is Wrong with Evan Bouchard? An Expert Analysis of the Oilers’ Defensive Liability

Evan Bouchard is going viral, and not for the right reasons. The Edmonton Oilers defenseman has been a defensive liability this season, culminating in a disastrous recent performance where he finished minus-three. He now owns a team-worst minus-nine rating, a staggering statistic that places him among the bottom six players in the entire NHL for that category.

The eye test matches the analytics: questionable plays, critical turnovers, and defensive-zone lapses are directly hurting the Oilers.

For a player expected to be a cornerstone of the blue line, this is more than a slump; it’s a systemic problem. But what exactly is broken in his game? From the outside, it appears to be a toxic combination of casual play, poor decision-making, and perhaps the immense pressure of a new contract and a team that looks completely lost.

The High-Risk, Low-Reward Problem of “Casual Play”

We all know the risk-reward proposition with Evan Bouchard. Offensively, he is one of the most gifted puck-movers from the back end in the league. He has the elite ability to make that “10-bell pass” that changes the complexion of a game.

The problem is, he’s always trying to make it, and the “risk” part of the equation is bankrupting the team.

His game has become defined by what experts call “casual play.” He has a propensity to turn pucks over because he’s forcing high-risk plays when a simple, safe situation is required. We saw it on the first goal against Vancouver, trying a lazy D-to-D pass when danger was apparent. We saw it again in the third period while defending a lead—he tried forcing a puck up the wall, it got batted down, and he immediately drifted outside the dots, abandoning the high-danger area he is paid to protect.

Analysis Paralysis: Why Bouchard is “Thinking” Instead of “Reacting”

This sloppiness extends to his defensive instincts. On the recent overtime-losing goal, while there was plenty of blame to go around (Leon Draisaitl letting J.T. Miller go), Bouchard’s failure was one of pure hesitation.

You can almost see him thinking instead of reacting. He peeked, wondering if he should take the trailer or engage the puck carrier, and by the time he processed the situation, Miller was at the net. That split-second “analysis paralysis” is the difference between an NHL defenseman and a liability.

This suggests a player who is “pressing.” The Oilers as a team are second in the league in offensive zone possession time but a middling 18th in goals for. They aren’t getting results, so players—especially offensive-minded ones like Bouchard—start looking for the perfect play instead of the right one.

When you turn the puck over and it doesn’t end up in your net (thanks to a big save), nobody notices. Just ask Zach Werenski or Rasmus Dahlin, who have similar giveaway numbers. The problem for Bouchard? He isn’t getting those saves, and every single mistake is magnified.

This is all happening under the shadow of his significant new contract extension. That kind of payday brings immense pressure, especially when the entire team starts the season looking slow, tired, and (with Zach Hyman out) injured. The coaching staff has to share the blame. If a player is struggling this badly, accountability is necessary—whether that’s skipping a shift or a healthy scratch. The frustration is growing, and Bouchard is currently the poster child for it.

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