Oilers sign Bouchard to 4-year, $42M extension

The Edmonton Oilers signed top defenseman Evan Bouchard to a four-year extension with an average annual value of $10.5 million, the team announced Monday.

Bouchard was set to become a restricted free agent on July 1. His last contract paid him $3.9 million annually.

The new deal will take him to unrestricted free agency at 29 years old, and it makes him the fourth-highest-paid defenseman in the NHL, following Erik Karlsson ($11.5 million AAV), Drew Doughty ($11 million AAV), and Rasmus Dahlin ($11 million AAV).

Bouchard racked up 14 goals and 67 points in 82 games this past season and finished 11th in Norris Trophy voting. He finished fifth in Norris voting the year prior after tallying 82 points in 81 contests.

The 25-year-old also owns a sterling postseason resume: He's produced 20 goals and 81 points in 75 career playoff appearances.

Bouchard's payday leaves the Oilers with just $551,000 in cap space. They've been busy this summer - Edmonton sent Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks last week to make cap room - but there are rumors the Oilers are trying to trade Viktor Arvidsson and his $4-million salary to free up more money.