The Edmonton Oilers were prepared to lock down Evan Bouchard as a long-term piece alongside Connor McDavid. With back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances and a core roster intact, the front office envisioned Bouchard as a foundational pillar in their championship blueprint.
Instead, the 25-year-old defenseman signed a four-year, $42 million extension—shorter than expected and notably more strategic. While the team preferred an eight-year term to stabilize its blue line around McDavid’s prime window, Bouchard’s agent had a different approach.
“We certainly were hoping to do an eight-year deal, but that was never really in the cards,” Oilers GM Stan Bowman admitted to the media. “In the negotiations, an eight-year term was really never in the cards.”
Salary cap strategy shapes the deal
The Oilers offered long-term security, but Bouchard’s camp declined, choosing to bet on future market growth. Bowman noted that Bouchard’s agent viewed the cap environment as a major factor in the decision-making process. “I think the agent indicated that that wasn’t something they thought made sense for them,” Bowman said, referring to the team’s push for a max-term deal.
Evan Bouchard #2 of the Edmonton Oilers skates with the puck against Sam Bennett #9 of the Florida Panthers during the first period in Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Given the NHL’s projected cap increases in the coming seasons, the decision appears tactical. Bouchard will now become an unrestricted free agent in 2029, just shy of age 30—well-positioned to cash in again as the salary ceiling rises.
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Bouchard believes Oilers are close
Fresh off a career-best 67 points in 82 regular-season games, along with 23 more in 22 playoff outings, Bouchard emerged as one of the most valuable defensemen in the postseason. He logged over 26 minutes per night in the Stanley Cup Final and became a steadying force in Edmonton’s transition game.
Despite the team falling short again to the Florida Panthers, Bouchard remains optimistic. “Everyone’s going to be that much hungrier,” he said. “We have what it takes. We just need to give a little bit more.”
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Was Bouchard right to turn down a long-term deal with the Oilers?
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With the Oilers continuing to build around Connor McDavid, Bouchard’s deal ensures he remains a vital piece of a team determined to take the final step toward a championship—just on his own contractual terms.
