This might be the last year we see <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/05/28/next-contract-edmonton-oilers-evan-bouchard-at-least-10-million-per-year/">Evan Bouchard</a> so low on the voting ballots for the NHL&#8217;s Norris Trophy.

The award, annually handed out to the league&#8217;s top defenceman, was given to Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar for the second time in his career.
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And while Bouchard received some votes, landing 11th on the ballot, it&#8217;s far from the highest that he&#8217;s finished in his career. Just last year, Bouchard finished fifth in voting, receiving a second-place vote, 19 third-place votes, 29 fourth-place votes, and 23 fifth-place votes.
This year, though, Bouchard received just three second-place votes, four fourth-place votes and seven-fifth place votes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Final voting results for the 2024-25 Norris Trophy: <a href="https://t.co/oJWXDnBpP3">pic.twitter.com/oJWXDnBpP3</a>
&mdash; Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) <a href="https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1932816974964535595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The <a href="http://oilersnation.com/combinations">Edmonton Oilers</a> blue liner saw his offensive numbers take a hit in the regular season this year, scoring 14 goals and 67 points in 82 games, down from the 18 goals and 82 points he had last year. The hit to his production came at five-on-five, where he scored 1.3 points per hour, down from the 1.52 he had the year prior, and on the power play, where his per hour scoring rate dipped from 7.51 in 2023-24 to 5.8 this year.
At five-on-five, the Oilers also saw a dip in offence with Bouchard on the ice, as his goals for per hour dipped from 3.9 last year to 2.8 this year, and his expected goals for per hour fell from 3.7 to 3.3. All of this can be attributed to an on-ice shooting percentage of 7.88 percent, down from the 10.22 it was last year.
And for as much as his production may have dipped this year, he&#8217;s been on a tear in the 2025 playoffs, scoring seven goals — a career-high — and 22 points in 19 games so far. That has him tied for third in playoff points with Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen. Once again, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/05/25/how-edmonton-oilers-evan-bouchard-elevates-play-in-postseason/">he&#8217;s elevated his playoff game</a> in a big way.
From last year to this year in the playoffs at five-on-five, his 0.5 goals per hour rate has stayed the same, but his points per hour has risen from 2.0 to 2.2, as his goals for per hour climbed from 3.75 to 4.15 and his expected goals for per hour has risen from 3.15 to 3.36.
It&#8217;s been another coming out party for Bouchard in these playoffs, and people have taken notice — a big reason why this might be the lowest we see him on the Norris ballot in the years to come.
Due for a big raise, Daily Faceoff&#8217;s Frank Seravalli reported earlier these playoffs that next contract <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/05/28/next-contract-edmonton-oilers-evan-bouchard-at-least-10-million-per-year/">will pay him</a> at least $10-million per year.
<hr />
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRSWOpthKmdtmFOKQDd7TQdTU2KSKXYvX">DFO DFS Report</a>. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at <a href="http://www.x.com/zjlaing">@zjlaing</a>, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.
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<h2><a href="http://LitcoLaw.com">Presented by Litco Law</a></h2>
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Litco Law has been serving Edmontonians and all of Alberta for over 50 years. A family-owned and operated company, their purpose is to balance the power for people who find themselves having to navigate the complex legal system. They can help with personal injury claims (like car accidents), employment matters (such as wrongful dismissal or severance package reviews), or if you’ve been denied long-term disability benefits. Litco Law is known for being experienced, responsive, and genuinely caring. You might not believe Lawyers You’ll Love™ exist—but they do. To learn more or book a free consultation, visit LitcoLaw.com.

This might be the last year we see <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/05/28/next-contract-edmonton-oilers-evan-bouchard-at-least-10-million-per-year/">Evan Bouchard</a> so low on the voting ballots for the NHL's Norris Trophy.



The award, annually handed out to the league's top defenceman, was given to Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar for the second time in his career.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2107" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="325"></div>
And while Bouchard received some votes, landing 11th on the ballot, it's far from the highest that he's finished in his career. Just last year, Bouchard finished fifth in voting, receiving a second-place vote, 19 third-place votes, 29 fourth-place votes, and 23 fifth-place votes.

This year, though, Bouchard received just three second-place votes, four fourth-place votes and seven-fifth place votes.

https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/1932816974964535595

The <a href="http://oilersnation.com/combinations">Edmonton Oilers</a> blue liner saw his offensive numbers take a hit in the regular season this year, scoring 14 goals and 67 points in 82 games, down from the 18 goals and 82 points he had last year. The hit to his production came at five-on-five, where he scored 1.3 points per hour, down from the 1.52 he had the year prior, and on the power play, where his per hour scoring rate dipped from 7.51 in 2023-24 to 5.8 this year.

At five-on-five, the Oilers also saw a dip in offence with Bouchard on the ice, as his goals for per hour dipped from 3.9 last year to 2.8 this year, and his expected goals for per hour fell from 3.7 to 3.3. All of this can be attributed to an on-ice shooting percentage of 7.88 percent, down from the 10.22 it was last year.

And for as much as his production may have dipped this year, he's been on a tear in the 2025 playoffs, scoring seven goals — a career-high — and 22 points in 19 games so far. That has him tied for third in playoff points with Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen. Once again, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/05/25/how-edmonton-oilers-evan-bouchard-elevates-play-in-postseason/">he's elevated his playoff game</a> in a big way.

From last year to this year in the playoffs at five-on-five, his 0.5 goals per hour rate has stayed the same, but his points per hour has risen from 2.0 to 2.2, as his goals for per hour climbed from 3.75 to 4.15 and his expected goals for per hour has risen from 3.15 to 3.36.

It's been another coming out party for Bouchard in these playoffs, and people have taken notice — a big reason why this might be the lowest we see him on the Norris ballot in the years to come.

Due for a big raise, Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reported earlier these playoffs that next contract <a href="https://oilersnation.com/2025/05/28/next-contract-edmonton-oilers-evan-bouchard-at-least-10-million-per-year/">will pay him</a> at least $10-million per year.

<hr />

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRSWOpthKmdtmFOKQDd7TQdTU2KSKXYvX">DFO DFS Report</a>. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at <a href="http://www.x.com/zjlaing">@zjlaing</a>, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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<h2><a href="http://LitcoLaw.com">Presented by Litco Law</a></h2>
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Litco Law has been serving Edmontonians and all of Alberta for over 50 years. A family-owned and operated company, their purpose is to balance the power for people who find themselves having to navigate the complex legal system. They can help with personal injury claims (like car accidents), employment matters (such as wrongful dismissal or severance package reviews), or if you’ve been denied long-term disability benefits. Litco Law is known for being experienced, responsive, and genuinely caring. You might not believe Lawyers You’ll Love™ exist—but they do. To learn more or book a free consultation, visit LitcoLaw.com.

Oilers’ Evan Bouchard finishes 11th in Norris Trophy voting

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