Two of the top 20 defencemen in the NHL are Edmonton Oilers with Evan Bouchard ranking ninth and Mattias Ekholm landing 16th on the NHL Network’s Top 20 Defencemen Right Now.

While some may argue that Bouchard should place higher than Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes because of how well the former did in their second-round match this past spring, there is no doubt that having two of the best defenders in the NHL residing in northern Alberta is encouraging.

The Oilers’ top pairing was instrumental in the team’s Stanley Cup run and was a big reason they could get within a win of immortality.

Bouchard stole the headlines with a playoff run for the ages as he was dominant offensively from start to finish, which saw him reach milestones faster than all but Bobby Orr and Brian Leetch along with rewriting the record books multiple times. When it was all said and done, he finished with 32 points (six goals and 26 assists) in 25 postseason games which was good for second on the team in scoring behind only Connor McDavid. Combined with him finishing fourth among defencemen during the regular season, it feels inevitable that Bouchard will be a finalist for the Norris as early as this coming season.

That will only be possible because he has an exceptional partner in Ekholm beside him, who was no slouch from an offensive production standpoint last year. He is fresh off a career year with 45 points (11 goals and 34 assists) in 79 games while also adding 10 points (five goals and five assists) in 25 postseason games. But his true value comes from being the Oilers’ best defensive defenceman who leads by example with his strong two-way play and willingness to play physically.

Bouchard and Ekholm complement each other perfectly because their playstyles mesh well, especially on a high-flying team like the Oilers. Their incredible on-ice chemistry is a big factor in why the pairing is one of only two teams (the other being the Avalanche) to have multiple defencemen crack the list. Put it all together and it makes sense why Bouchard and Ekholm are on the NHL Network’s list of top defensemen in the league right now.