Edmonton Oilers sign Evan Bouchard to short-term, high value contract

Bouchard's contract was reportedly the top priority for the Edmonton Oilers this offseason - even before signing Connor McDavid - to prevent the threat of an offer sheet against the star defender. Now, he's locked up.

Bouchard has been among the NHL's best defenceman statistically over the last two years, and is getting paid like it on this contract.

The Oilers were reportedly hoping to bring down Bouchard's salary by going to only 4 years instead of 8, but at $10.5M, it doesn't look like much of a reduction. Bouchard was expected to earn no more than $11M for an 8 year contract.

It's great that the Edmonton Oilers will be keeping Bouchard, but he's not going to be providing much surplus value on his contract anymore. With this deal, he comes out on top with shorter term, and higher AAV. In 4 more years, he'll sign for a much larger number.

Now with Bouchard signed at $10.5M, considering Draisaitl's contract raise, and the other deals the Oilers have signed for next season - the team currently has $4.7M of salary cap space, assuming Arvidsson is dealt.

Viktor Arvidsson is also expected to be traded very soon. With that amount of space, the Oilers would have the freedom to pursue significant moves in free agency or trade.

Although the Oilers didn't get Bouchard to a team-friendly deal, it's good they've got him back on the roster for next year, and will have the flexibility to make some significant additions as well. All in, it seems like a fair deal for both sides.