This is simply unacceptable

You know, I actually quite like Evan Bousard, especially when he is paired with Matias Ekholm, a relatively responsible defender, but he was rightfully absolutely torn apart after last night’s game against the Islanders when there’s been a lot of talk about whether he should be on Team Canada’s Olympic roster. The first goal of the game was clearly on him and was egregious. The puck is flipped up to the red line. To be fair, it’s not like there’s immediately a clear breakout. There’s a ton of bodies in the middle of the ice, but he obviously overhandles the puck. Matt Barzell comes, steals it, and beats Steuart Skinner easily on the breakaway. One nothing Isles. But that wouldn’t be it. On the power play, Evan Buchard is found completely out of position. Bo Horvette grabs the short-handed pass, goes in again all alone and evens the game 22. Ray Ferraro in this game was very critical of Bousard, as he should be. He basically called this completely unacceptable. Pretty much as bad a two periods as you could have for a defenseman. And the Islanders would go on to get the game-winning goal on the power play with 5 minutes left in the third. Now, you obviously can’t put all of this on Bard, but he was almost solely responsible for those two goals, completely out of position or mishandling the puck. That is on him. This was a frustrating game for Oilers fans, too. A lot of conversation I’ve seen around McDavid choosing not to shoot when basically wide open in the slot. It’s frustrating. Troy Stetcher was just not ready for that one, but it’s been all Bousard and people have been extremely hard on him. Scotty Ushaw, obviously former NHL player, said the following on Twitter. It’s unacceptable. This isn’t the Bousard show. Mar Hughes and Dowy don’t do this. I think of Carlson sometimes when I see this, but he actually played like a forward, so you let him go. These mistakes are bad habits that cost games. makes you think his give a meter is empty. And Bousard is a frustrating player because yes, he does have that offensive upside. I see it as more in his shot really than anything else. But he is prone to so many mistakes which just leave you scratching your head. I think last year in that series versus LA where he just threw a biscuit to no one and Deno score just an easy one there. That being said, I don’t agree with everyone who says Buchard is awful or even that he’s a bad deal at $10 million. People will point out his advanced stats are great. I think generally he passes the eye test. He does however seem to have these uniquely bad defensive breakdowns. Would I put him on team Canada? No. And I think Elliot Freriedman had a really good point a few nights ago, maybe last week on Hockey Night in Canada, where he said, “Canada can find the offensive defenseman with purely better players like Macar.” I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Edmonton having him as a first pair defenseman, but we can’t pretend there’s no issues there. Hopefully we don’t see another play like this anytime

We need to talk Bouchard as we recap the Edmonton Oilers vs the New York Islanders

34 comments

  3. Bro! This is not a one game thing, I’m taking a good one if not two years of this that people have just decided to notice it this year! Oilers fans have been screaming about this for again one if not two years! I have no idea why they resigned him. Wasting money! He can’t play defence and his offence is nothing anymore. Terrible choice that everyone has seen except the people that needs too! You’ll see more of these plays I just don’t know if they will be noticed.

  4. The Oilers dont need more goals. This has always been the frustrating thing about him. He is not NECESSARY. He is redundant.

    You need a top for who eat pucks and make what could have been a 40 shot game into a 20 shot game with only 2 goals against, you should not NEED 6 fucking goals and praying your goalie stands on his head. The job is to make the life of the goalie EASIER as a D man. not put up 100 fucking points.

    This team has lost 2 finals in a row because it allowed the other team to score more goals than they could score SO WHAT FUCKING USE IS HE

  10. The Hawks have stayed competitive in SOME of their games? They’re 2-2-2 and the two losses were by 1 goal.
    Wouldn’t that be competitive in ALL of their games?

  12. I don't get why Edmonton overpaid for a defensemen that does nothing, but shoot. You already have the offense with 2 of the top 3 forwards in the league. Just pay a solid defensemen and goalie. It's not that complicated.

  13. Bouchard is useless. He does not react to changing situations as a defender. He is seen just standing there as the opposition blows by him after he misplays the puck time and time again. They should have let him go a long time ago.

  16. The worst thing about this is that Bouchard faces no accountability, ever. If Knoblauch had guts, he would bench Bouchard for a game or, at minimum, sit him for a period (or even a long spell) when he continually does things like this. But Knobby never does this, and so Bouchard just goes out game after game and repeats the same mistakes.

  28. There is no chance Bouchard will be on team Canada. If he made zero mistakes from now till February he won't have a spot on the team. The only thing that he brings to the table is offence and we already have Cale Makar. Even if Cale Makar were to be injured (Knock on wood), we have Shea Theodore, Josh Morrissey, and several other defensemen who can score points and aren't major defensive liabilities.

  34. The last few seasons, I've felt like the oilers D wasn't good enough to win a cup, and skinner doesn't steal enough saves to make up for them. Offense doesnt win championships alone.

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