The Edmonton Oilers are pushing through a tight division race, while questions around their defensive play remain. Individual performances have still stood out, especially from Evan Bouchard, who has been driving offense from the blue line.
As the regular season winds down, Norris Trophy discussions have picked up pace across the league, and Bouchard is in the mix. A recent take from Brady Tkachuk suggests otherwise. Despite Bouchard’s historic production, the Ottawa Senators captain identified his personal trio of front-runners for the award, leaving the Oilers’ star on the outside looking in.
Brady Tkachuk’s Norris Trophy Picks Snub Evan Bouchard
Bouchard has built one of the strongest offensive cases among defensemen this season, yet he did not make the top three in a recent ranking shared by Brady Tkachuk. Speaking on his “Wingmen” podcast alongside his brother Matthew Tkachuk, Brady outlined his choices for the Norris Trophy race and focused on a different group of names.
“I’m going off the front-runners here,” Brady said while listing his picks. “I’m just going with my top three… Werenski [Zach], Quinn [Hughes]… Makar [Cale] is such a beast.” He also mentioned his teammate Jake Sanderson, who is far behind on the list, before settling on his final trio.
When reminded about avoiding bias, he admitted, “I’m breaking my own rules,” before confirming, “Z, Quinn, Makar. It’s those three.”
The omission stands out considering Bouchard’s production. The Oilers defenseman has recorded 89 points in 78 games, including 21 goals and 68 assists, ranking him among the top NHL blueliners in scoring.
During this stretch, he recorded his 68th assist of the 2025–26 season, surpassing Paul Coffey’s 67 from 1982–83 for the fourth-most assists ever by an Oilers defenseman in a single season.
Bouchard also reached several milestones this season. During his 400th career game on Jan. 24, he posted a six-point performance with his first NHL hat trick against the Washington Capitals. He became only the fourth defenseman in franchise history to hit the 20-goal mark in a season, showing his offensive impact.
Despite those numbers, the Norris race remains tight. Werenski has gained traction as a leading candidate, while Makar (2025 winner of the award) continues to be viewed as one of the league’s most complete defensemen. Hughes has also stayed in the conversation due to his heavy workload and playmaking ability.
The debate often extends beyond raw scoring. While Bouchard’s offensive totals are the highest, questions about defensive play and overall impact continue to shape opinions. That contrast explains why some players and analysts lean toward more balanced profiles when naming top candidates.
For Edmonton, Bouchard’s performance still plays a major role in their push for positioning in the Pacific Division. The team remains tied near the top of the standings, but defensive consistency will be crucial heading into the postseason.
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