Oilers reporter believes Evan Bouchard will take a different path after contract expiry

He explains that many feel an offer sheet will come his way, but Gregor thinks that Bouchard will likely go to arbitration to settle his contract.

There is a certain logic to use arbitration rather than trying to settle a contract dispute have Bouchard has had two great seasons under his current deal.

The 25-year-old defender who was drafted by the Oilers in 2018, 10th overall had a breakout season last year playing 81 games, scoring 18 goals with 64 assists for 82 points and was a + 34 with 32 penalty minutes.

He followed up his second year of his deal playing 82 games this year, scoring 14 goals with 53 assists for 67 points and was a +14.

Both years certainly will grant him the dollar value he is looking for through arbitration rather the dealing with the Oilers direct as Bouchard will become a restricted free agent with arb rights at the end of this season.

The organization will face several key decisions over the next several months as they currently hold $180,616.00 in cap space.

The team has five unrestricted free agent forwards going into next season who include Jeff Skinner, Corey Perry, Connor Brown, Kasperi Kapanen and Trent Frederic.

The team also has expiring contract next season of Connor McDavid and Bouchard to work with.

General manager Stan Bowman along with President Jeff Jackson will likely sit down after the season is over and plot out a plan that will achieve their goals including signing Bouchard and McDavid.

In the meantime, the team along with the fan base will get to enjoy another Western Conference final as the Oilers prepare for round 3 and wait for their opponent between Dallas and Winnipeg.