NHLPA names Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard player of the week

Stay hot, Evan Bouchard.

The Oilers’ defenceman was named the player of the week by the NHL Players Association on Friday after racking up eight points in four games. During that stretch, he scored three goals, two game-winners against the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 8 and the other two days later against the New Jersey Devils.

Bouchard had half of his points come on the power play, extending a point streak to 13 games — tripling his previous career high of four games, which he had done twice. This run has been wildly impressive for the rearguard, racking up five goals and 20 points, extending it Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning with two assists while playing 25:48, his second highest total of the season.

He becomes the 18th defenceman in NHL history to have a streak so long, joining the likes of Gary Suter (twice), Reijo Ruotsalainen, Larry Robinson (twice), Bobby Orr (thrice), Doug Mohns, Cale Makar, Brian Leetch (thrice), Erik Karlsson, Roman Josi, Phil Housley (twice), Dougie Hamilton, Shayne Gostisbehere, Steve Duchesne, Paul Coffey (thrice), Chris Chelios, Ray Bourque (thrice) and Dave Babych.

Drafted by the Oilers 10th overall in the 2018 draft, Bouchard has seen his game at another level since March 2023, when the team traded away Tyson Barrie. Bouchard was given minutes on the Oilers top power play unit, and since partnered with Mattias Ekholm at even-strength, has developed into one of the most productive defenceman in the league.

In fact, in the 48 games since the trade, Bouchard has scored 13 goals and 51 points in the regular season and had a stellar four goals and 17 points in the Oilers’ 12 playoff games last season.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.