Oilers' Evan Bouchard's Historic Start to the Season

Every now and then, a player puts together a stretch of hockey that makes you stop and wonder what more he has to do to get the recognition he deserves. That's where I am with Evan Bouchard right now.

The Edmonton Oilers defenceman is off to a ridiculous start. He's got six goals and 12 points in his first five games, and he's already putting some distance between himself and the rest of the NHL's defencemen in scoring. If you watched his season opener against Vancouver, you saw a hat trick and five points in a game the Oilers eventually lost 6-5 in overtime. Not a bad way to start.

And he hasn't slowed down. Bouchard followed that performance with more points against Vancouver and then added two goals and a power-play assist in Edmonton's 5-2 win over Anaheim. He's been at the center of almost everything the Oilers are doing offensively.

But here's the thing. Bouchard isn't just putting up numbers because the Oilers are involved in high-scoring games. His impact at five-on-five has been remarkable, too. Edmonton has outscored opponents 13-1 with him on the ice at even strength. He's playing nearly 25 minutes a night and still finding ways to contribute at both ends of the rink.

When Does the Recognition Catch Up for Bouchard?

Bouchard finished last season with 95 points, 14 more than any other defenceman, yet he wasn't a Norris Trophy finalist. Now, early in the new season, he's again being placed behind several other names in the first Norris Trophy discussion. I understand that these conversations involve more than points. Defending matters. Consistency matters. And there are some terrific defencemen around the league.

But I wonder if Bouchard is still fighting an old perception. He's known as an offensive defenceman, and perhaps some people haven't caught up with how much his overall game has developed. I'm not suggesting he's perfect. No player is. But when you're producing at this level, playing big minutes, and helping your team control scoring chances, it's fair to ask whether the conversation needs to change.

Here's my take: we don't have to wait for somebody to win a trophy to appreciate what we're watching.

Bouchard Is Entering His Prime. How Much Better Can He Get?

Bouchard is 26; he's entering his prime, and he's already established himself as one of the NHL's most productive defencemen. The season is young, and those numbers will eventually cool off. That's hockey.

Still, the Oilers have something special here. Maybe the recognition will come in time. In the meantime, I'm happy to appreciate the show. Sometimes we spend so much time debating who deserves what that we forget to enjoy a player who's doing something remarkable right in front of us.