As the Edmonton Oilers gear up for another playoff push, the organization has a major off-ice decision looming—how much are they willing to pay to keep defenseman Evan Bouchard? According to ongoing Evan Bouchard rumors, the 25-year-old blueliner could be asking for a deal in the range of $10 million annually on his next contract.
Will the Edmonton Oilers Pay $10 Million Annually to Keep Evan Bouchard?
Bouchard is coming off a monster 82-point campaign last season, and while his numbers have dipped slightly this year, he remains elite. With 54 points so far in 2024-25, he ranks fourth among all NHL defensemen, and a strong finish could still push him over 65 points.
Sportsnet’s Luke Fox speculated that Bouchard’s production decline could lower his ask slightly. That’s a fair assumption—but only to a point. Bouchard’s camp will almost certainly frame last season as his benchmark and argue his current numbers are still in elite company. If he finishes north of 60 points, expect his camp to seek somewhere between $9 million and $9.5 million per season.
The big question is whether the Oilers can or will meet that demand. With Leon Draisaitl’s $14 million AVV kicking in next season, Connor McDavid approaching UFA status, and a tight salary cap, GM Stan Bowman—faces a delicate juggling act.
From my standpoint, Bouchard is the kind of right-shot defenseman that teams build around. He quarterbacks the powerplay, logs major minutes, and still hasn’t hit his prime. If Edmonton lets him go or lowballs him, there’ll be a lineup of teams ready to pounce.
Still, $10 million is a steep number. Expect the Oilers to push for something closer to $9 million AAV—unless Bouchard goes nuclear in the playoffs. Either way, this negotiation will be one of the offseason’s biggest storylines.
Find the Latest Edmonton Oilers News and NHL Trade Rumors
To stay up to date on Edmonton Oilers news, daily NHL trade rumors, and find out what channel the Oilers game is on TV today, make sure to bookmark nhltraderumor.com and sign up for our free NHL newsletter below.
