Edmonton Oilers‘ Evan Bouchard did not hide his frustration after being left off the NHL’s 2025–26 Norris Trophy finalist list, despite producing one of the best offensive seasons by a defenseman in recent league history.
The NHL announced Rasmus Dahlin, Cale Makar, and Zach Werenski as the three finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy on May 7. So, Bouchard’s exclusion has emerged as a surprise.
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Speaking on TSN’s OverDrive, Bouchard admitted the omission stings after leading all NHL defensemen with 95 points.
“When I saw that come out, I was definitely upset a little bit,” Bouchard said. “But you can’t really let that bother you. You don’t really think about it too much during the season. You got a bigger picture team thing.
“So, I didn’t think about it too much until it came out today. Stings a little bit, but you know what? You get back at it, and you forget about it.”
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Bouchard’s numbers alone made the case difficult to ignore. He finished with 21 goals and 74 assists across 82 games, becoming one of the select few defenseman in NHL history to surpass 90 points in a season. Evan in the playoffs he had 7 points in 6 games.
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Evan Bouchard’s offensive dominance was not enough
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (2) skates in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center
Historically, a 95-point season from a defenseman almost guarantees a Norris nomination. In most years, it likely wins the award outright.
This year was different because voters looked beyond raw production.
Makar (79 points) anchored the league’s top penalty kill and drove a Presidents’ Trophy-winning team. Dahlin (74 points) transformed the Buffalo Sabres into a division champion. Werenski (81 points) carried massive minutes for the Columbus Blue Jackets while leading their offense from the back end.
Bouchard admitted the competition, saying, “There’s a lot of great defensemen in the league, so it’s kinda hard to pick between three of them.”
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Bouchard’s challenges have also played a role, since the Oilers regressed badly defensively all season. Edmonton finished 25th in goals against, struggled on the penalty kill, and often looked disconnected structurally in its own zone.
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Fair or not, Norris voting still rewards two-way impact. Bouchard’s offensive generation was elite, but his defensive game remained polarizing around the league, paired with the Oilers’ struggles.
Edmonton’s bigger issues hurt his candidacy
The Oilers’ first-round 4-2 exit against the Anaheim Ducks likely reinforced existing concerns among voters.
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Bouchard posted seven playoff points, but he also finished with a minus-7 rating during a series where Edmonton repeatedly lost defensive coverage battles. The Oilers surrendered eight power-play goals in six games and blew multiple leads after scoring first.
That matters because perception often shapes award races. When a team collapses defensively, its top-pair defenseman usually absorbs part of the blame.
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Still, Bouchard’s frustration is understandable. At 26, he remains one of hockey’s premier puck-moving defensemen and arguably the league’s most dangerous power-play quarterback outside Makar.