The Edmonton Oilers and star blue-liner Evan Bouchard are unlikely to begin discussions on a contract extension this offseason, according to The Athletic's Daniel Nugent-Bowman.
Bouchard became eligible to sign a new deal July 1 but is under contract for 2024-25 at a $3.9-million cap hit and can reach restricted free agency after the season.
The Oilers, currently without a general manager, are focused on extensions for Leon Draisaitl (2025 UFA) and Connor McDavid (2026 UFA), Nugent-Bowman reports.
Edmonton's two superstar forwards have strong cases to become the league's highest-paid players, but Bouchard is owed a significant raise as well. The 24-year-old ranked fourth among defensemen with 81 points last season and added 32 in the playoffs as the Oilers fell one win shy of the Stanley Cup.
Bouchard averaged 23 minutes per contest in 2023-24 and quarterbacks Edmonton's lethal power play.
The Oilers drafted Bouchard 10th overall in 2018.
