Oiler’s Problem Better than Evan Bouchard’s $10.5 AAV – Hockey Writer – Edmonton Oiler
The Edmonton Oilers may have successfully kept Evan Bouchard in foldable form with a new four-year, $42 million contract, but the way the deal should raise red flags about his future. Having an elite offensive defender on the roster and being locked is a relief, but the team may just delay a bigger problem.
The threat to the offer form is real
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Oilers were forced to bring Bouchard’s traded sweetness to $10.5 million per season, a year higher than initially expected $1 million — the Carolina Hurricanes hovered out with a potential offer. Edmonton succumbed to the risk of losing one of the NHL’s most dynamic offensive defenders. However, in the short term, this decision, while necessary, lays the foundation for more complex negotiations when the contract expires.
Related: Oilers quietly explore offseason deals for top defenders
For the Oiler, what makes this situation particularly worrying is the signal it sends: Bouchard has the potential to leave the team. If the player is willing to sign, the form provided in the NHL is important. Carolina may only force Edmonton’s hand because people believe Busard may have accepted it. Players like Matthew Knies have no doubt about their commitment to the current team, and the Oilers are eager to complete the deal, showing Bouchard’s willingness to explore the open market at the right price.
It’s not just a one-time deal. The contract structure (four-year term, not eight term), Bouchard’s eyes were set on a bigger payday when salary caps were expected to rise significantly. General Manager Stan Bowman admits that an eight-year deal “never been in the card” because the asking price “does not make sense to anyone.”
In other words, Bushad’s camp wants more than just fair market value – they want flexibility and future leverage.
From the oiler’s point of view, the necessary decision to keep their Stanley Cup windows open. However, the choice may come back and bite.
What will happen in four years?
Fast forward four years: Bushad will be 28 years old, his absolute champion. The salary cap that Bowman himself admitted will rise, which could soar to the current $10.5 million seemingly modest level. If Bouchard continues his current trajectory, there is good reason to believe that he can order $140-15 million or more per quarter, especially as comparable contracts across the league continue to trend.
More importantly, a precedent has been set now. The Oiler blinked face to face the offer table, and if Busard continued to produce at the current rate, he would have leverage around him. Unless Edmonton wins a Stanley Cup or two in this window, it is reasonable to pay the full value today, and the proposal negotiations may become interesting. Bouchard has no motivation to enjoy his hometown discounts, and he has shown that he is willing to use the leverage he has.
This is not to say that there is no loyalty in Bushad. Meanwhile, it is understandable that he is thinking about the upcoming Cap Boom and how to maximize his income. This is problematic for the Oilers, who will need top players to make team-friendly deals to build their top stars.
Finally, the Oilers did what they had to do. But if Bouchard was willing to walk once, what made anyone think he wouldn’t think it would be considered again?
