Bouchard Reportedly Battling for 8th D Spot on Team Canada with Rookie

Pierre Lebrun on Insider Trading says Evan Bouchard‘s name has resurfaced on Team Canada’s Olympic team’s radar. Following a solid stretch of highly productive games, Bouchard seems to have overcome his early-season jitters, and the high-end defenseman people know he can be has taken over the conversation.

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LeBrun reported that he thinks that it’s between Bouchard and New York Islanders superstar rookie blueliner Matthew Schaefer for the 8D spot.

It’s unclear which player Team Canada is leaning toward, but the decision is expected to be made soon, with the team announced on New Year’s Eve.

Related: Matthew Schaefer Needs To Be On Canadian Olympic Roster

Bouchard is a polarizing option. His highs are extremely high. When he’s on his game, he’s arguably one of the better offensive defensemen in the NHL and can quarterback a power play as good as any defenseman in the league. He’s got chemistry with Connor McDavid, and his defensive game can be underrated. However, when he bottoms out and plays poorly, his lows are extremely low.

For example, in a recent game against the Buffalo Sabres, he inexplicably coughed up the puck when he tried to walk out in front of his own goalie. At that time, Bouchard’s Team Canada chances were seemingly on life support, and that giveaway might have been the final blow. He turned it around. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch talked post-game about Bouchard’s second-period giveaway to Tage Thompson, saying, “He knows he made a mistake.”

The Next Few Games Matter For Bouchard

Bouchard has 16 points in his last 11 games. The Oilers are starting to string together some points and move up the standings. If he can continue to shine over the next few games, he gives himself a legitimate shot at Team Canada. If he has headline-grabbing giveaways — which he’s prone to do at times — it might be enough noise to seal his fate and leave him off the team.

There’s a fine line between bringing someone onto the roster that has dynamic offensive ability, but if Team Canada isn’t comfortable living with the mistakes that are bound to happen, they may choose to go another direction.

The fact that he’s up against a rookie might give him the edge. Bouchard’s big-game numbers are otherworldly. If this were a playoff game, he’d be a shoo-in.

Next: Trade Pitch Brings Laurent Brossoit Back to Edmonton