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Evan Bouchard lands 10th on NHL Network’s ranking of league’s best defencemen
Edmonton Oilers Evan Bouchard
Photo credit: © Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Dylan Nazareth
Aug 15, 2025, 16:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 15, 2025, 17:07 EDT
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On Wednesday, NHL Network continued its offseason rankings with its list of the league’s Top 20 Defencemen. Compiled by NHL producers and analysts, Edmonton Oilers blueliner Evan Bouchard came in tenth.
Coming off another big season and playoff run, there’s no denying Bouchard’s value to the team, between his consistent production and big minutes:
“Bouchard had 67 points (14 goals, 53 assists), including 26 on the power play in 82 games last season in a career-high 23:28 of ice time per game. This came after he set career highs in goals (18), assists (64), plus-minus (plus-35), power-play goals (eight), power-play points (35) and game-winning goals (seven) in 2023-24. Bouchard also ranked fifth in the NHL at the position in SAT percentage during the regular season, with the Oilers controlling 58.8 percent of shot attempts at 5-on-5 when he was on the ice. The 25-year-old had 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists) in 22 playoff games and his 1.08 points per game in the playoffs (81 points in 75 games) are tied for second in NHL history behind Orr (1.24).”
With his impressive last two seasons, Bouchard has been a driving force behind Edmonton’s back-to-back Cup Finals appearances, as he continues to prove himself as a playoff performer. In 75 playoff games over the last four seasons, he has 20 goals and a total of 81 points. His impressive postseason stats from this year’s Cup chase came despite the long absence of Mattias Ekholm on Edmonton’s blue line. If he’s proved anything this past season, it’s that he can take on big minutes for the Oilers, step up to the task when injuries take down his teammates, and continue to produce at the high level he showed in 2023-24 and over the past few playoff runs.
Ahead of Bouchard from first to ninth, respectively, are Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski, Miro Heiskanen, Victor Hedman, Josh Morrissey, Rasmus Dahlin, Jaccob Slavin, and Roman Josi. Bouchard’s tenth-place spot is one below his 2024 ranking of ninth, which came following his breakthrough season on the scoresheet.
While still a young player, Bouchard has established himself as a top NHL defenceman with a big career ahead of him. Earlier on Friday, Oilersnation’s Sean Panganiban took a look at what the future could hold for the Oakville, Ontario native, including whether he could find his way to the Hall of Fame.
Do you agree with Bouchard’s tenth-place ranking amongst NHL blueliners? Should he be higher on the list?

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