Oilers notebook: Bouchard doesn't receive enough credit, asserts McDavid; Salute to Perry Pearn

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeSportsHockeyEdmonton Oilers Oilers notebook: Bouchard doesn't receive enough credit, asserts McDavid; Salute to Perry Pearn 'He’s taken on a leadership role ... he’s taken a while to come into his own, but you can tell this year there’s a different kind of aura about him' Author of the article: By Jim Matheson Published Sep 21, 2026 7 minute read Join the conversation Evan Bouchard (2) was made available on the eve of the Edmonton Oilers training camp on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. PHOTO BY SHAUGHN BUTTS /Postmedia Article content Last time we checked, Connor McDavid wasn’t a card-carrying member of the NHL Professional Hockey Writers Association, so he doesn’t get a vote for the Norris Trophy, but he’s the biggest cheerleader for Evan Bouchard, who played a ho-hum 25 minutes in last Saturday’s win over the Jets. Article content “He’s an elite defenceman and really doesn’t get enough credit. He’s a special, special player… he’s asked to do everything. He plays five-on-five, on the penalty-kill, on our power play unit,” said McDavid in a post-practice media scrum Monday. Article content Article content Article content Bouchard, who had four assists against the Jets, playing 22 minutes ES, 1:45 on the PK and 1:24 on the PP, doesn’t need anybody holding his hand any longer. He has an A on his jersey for the first time, replacing Darnell Nurse as the Oiler defenceman with a letter. Article content Oil Spills Essential Oilers news, insight, opinion and analysis. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content “He’s taken on a leadership role … he’s taken a while to come into his own, but you can tell this year there’s a different kind of aura about him.” Article content Bouchard, as we all know, didn’t make Canada’s Olympic team because some in the management team were hung up on how he was without the puck, his errors rather than his playmaking ability as the best passing D in the league. He did finish fourth in voting for the Norris, his highest ranking, but there’s still some, ‘yeah, but…’ from assessors. Article content “That’s a question for you guys … I’ve got all the respect in the world for him. It’s everyone else who’s not at the rink who doesn’t have respect for him. Everyone loves to comment on the boo-boos, but…