Oilers May Explore Bouchard Trade Value Before Long-Term Offer

The Edmonton Oilers face a pivotal decision in the coming months regarding defenseman Evan Bouchard’s future with the team. That decision, made more difficult when Bouchard has games like he did on Monday night where nothing went right versus the Florida Panthers, is the second-biggest decision the team will make about a contract extension next to Connor McDavid. Noted X.com Oilers poster Paul Almeida raised important questions on X.com about whether management should offer the 23-year-old a long-term contract worth over $9 million annually or explore trade options for the young defenseman.

Big questions for #Oilers management regarding Bouchard in the next year.
Do they sign him to a long term $9M+ contract or do they see what would be out there for him on the trade market?
There would probably be interest from quite a few teams. Edmonton would need a D on return. pic.twitter.com/Oeua5oVhx2

— Paul Almeida (@AzorcanGlobal) December 17, 2024

Bouchard, known for his offensive upside, has shown significant development and potential in recent seasons, making him a key part of the Oilers’ blue-line mix. When he’s on his game, few are better and Bouhcard is elite. When he’s not, his mistakes are glaring and fans have a tendency to turn sour on his game.

The looming decision involves balancing his performance against the team’s salary cap space, which could be stretched thin by a significant contract extension with McDavid and the big deal signed with Leon Draisaitl kicking in next year.

Are the Oilers Thinking About Exploring the Trade Market on Bouchard?

Almeida pointed out that there could be considerable interest from other NHL teams in acquiring Bouchard through trade, which would open the door for the Oilers to potentially land a defenseman in return. One common belief is that trading the best player means losing the deal, and that’s the risk here. But, the reason to look at this is because it’s not clear Bouchard is consistent enough to be regularly called the best player in any trade.

If the Oilers could get a solid defenseman back in the deal and save money in the process, this would address both the team’s immediate needs and long-term goals.

Within the fanbase, opinions are divided. Some believe Bouchard’s potential justifies the hefty contract extension, while others are concerned that committing such a high salary could limit the team’s flexibility. At this point, it’s not clear how much Bouchard’s up-and-down season has hurt his negotiating leverage. He might not command $9 million if he remains so inconsistent.

Almeida seems to hint the Oilers might be torn here. Ideally, you want a player like Bouchard on your team, but for the right price. Will the Oilers see if another team is willing to overpay on a trade?

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Next: Reimagining Oilers and Lightning After a Draisaitl-Kucherov Trade