Leon Draisaitl placed teammate Evan Bouchard among the league’s elite defensemen. This comparison came after the Edmonton Oilers rallied for a 5-4 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday at Rogers Place.
Bouchard, who is signed on 4 year $42 million contract, played a key role in the victory. The 26-year-old defenseman scored the game-winning power-play goal in overtime and added an assist. He finished the game with two points, four shots, and logged 28:37 of ice time.
He continued his impressive points streak and has 11 points over his last five games.
After the game, Draisaitl praised Bouchard’s impact from the blue line. The German star said the defenseman belongs in the same conversation as two of the NHL’s most dynamic blueliners, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes.
“Yeah, I mean, he’s as good as it gets in the league,” Draisaitl said. “He’s up there with the Makar, the Hughes. He does it his way. It might not be as flashy as those guys, but he gets it done, and he is one of the best defensemen in the league.”
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Bouchard continues to deliver one of the strongest seasons of his career. He has recorded 18 goals and 53 assists for 71 points, placing him among the league’s top offensive defensemen.
Talking about his impressive season, Draisaitl said, “Has been for a few years now, and obviously this year I think he’s taken another step, which is amazing to see.”
“There’s a lot of positives tonight for sure, but there’s also still some things we need to clean up.”
Leon Draisaitl speaks after his five-point night in the #Oilers 5-4 OT victory over the Senators.
@Enterprise | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/2jw5D0cp0e— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 4, 2026
Bouchard is skilled in moving the puck and generating shots, which has become a major part of Edmonton’s offense. Additionally, He plays a big role on the power play, where his passing and heavy shot create scoring chances for the Oilers’ top forwards.
Tuesday’s game featured plenty of momentum swings. Ottawa built a 4-2 lead in the second period. But Edmonton answered in the third period. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored on the power play early, and Zach Hyman tied the game late in regulation.
In overtime, Bouchard delivered the final moment. He blasted a power-play slap shot past the Ottawa goalie at 1:50 to secure the comeback victory.
The win moved Edmonton to 30-24-8 on the season and kept the team in the tight Pacific Division playoff race.
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