Evan Bouchard has just received strong support for the Norris Trophy from Kris Knoblauch’s team in Edmonton, and Jim Matheson’s points highlight how this award is usually judged most critically.
Matheson didn’t just highlight Bouchard as someone who is good at the power play. He got right into the ongoing discussion about the award and connected it to how a player is actually used in the game.
His article on Tuesday addressed the main part of the argument. Matheson stated that if a defenseman wants to be seen as the best in the league, he must also do significant work while the team is short-handed.
This is important for Bouchard because it’s easy to notice the criticism against him. He has impressive offensive numbers, skill on the power play, and excellent puck handling, but he hasn’t played enough tough minutes when the team is not on the power play.
Matheson countered this criticism by mentioning a specific statistic: 147 minutes of playing while the team is short-handed. This doesn’t mean Bouchard is just a defensive player, but it does challenge the idea that he only benefits from being on the power play.
When Matheson compared him to Zach Werenski, Cale Makar, Moritz Seider, and Rasmus Dahlin, it was clear that Bouchard belongs in that elite group of impactful players.
Evan Bouchard’s Case for the Norris Trophy Is Well-Rounded
The timing is also important. Bouchard has played 81 games, scored 21 goals, and accumulated 92 points, which ranks him 11th in the entire league, ahead of all defensemen in that top-25 list.
This kind of offensive output makes voters pay attention to him. When you add a +22 rating to the mix, it becomes harder to dismiss his numbers as just a result of playing on the power play.
The main focus of Matheson’s article was Quinn Hughes. Everyone agrees that Hughes can influence a game, but his total of 8:17 minutes playing short-handed stands out in a Norris discussion that values players who can perform well in every situation.
That doesn’t finish the competition, and it shouldn’t. Hughes still has amazing skills with the puck and is great at moving the game forward. Makar still has a solid reputation. Werenski has had a terrific year as well.
However, Bouchard’s case seems stronger now because it’s more straightforward. He’s not just helping Edmonton’s main group. He’s playing a lot of tough minutes, contributing to special teams on both ends, and continues to perform like a superstar.
For Oilers fans, that’s what they should pay attention to. The Norris competition might still be very close, but Bouchard has left behind the label that used to hold him back.
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