With less than 24 hours until NHL free agency begins, the Edmonton Oilers have locked up defenseman Evan Bouchard to an extension. Earlier today, reports indicated that an <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/two-oilers-forwards-expected-to-be-traded-today-according-to-latest-report' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>extension between the Oilers and Bouchard</a> was close. Now, just a couple of hours later, the Oilers and Bouchard are reportedly finalizing that extension and he is expected to remain in Edmonton for the next four seasons. <h3>Edmonton Oilers Re-Sign Evan Bouchard On The Eve Of Free Agency</h3> According to a report from Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects, the Edmonton Oilers and Evan Bouchard are finalizing a four-year deal worth over 10 million dollars per season. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/hockey_robinson/status/1939779823083430172'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/puckempire/status/1939780808337772858'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> This is a massive deal for Bouchard who now becomes one of the highest paid defensemen in the league. Throughout his time in Edmonton, Bouchard has been a polarizing player with incredibly high offensive potential but miscues in his own end on a regular basis. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/jfreshhockey/status/1939784331003629681'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Bouchard signs a shorter-term deal than expected as well only committing to the next four seasons with the Edmonton Oilers. Despite, the shorter contract it seems the Oilers could not bring down that salary cap hit as much as they originally had hoped. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/frank_seravalli/status/1939785332389540328'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> With this deal, Stan Bowman and the Edmonton Oilers clearly believe that Bouchard can be the number one defenseman on a Stanley Cup winning team. Bouchard himself needs to take the next step and become a truly elite two-way defenseman and prioritize his game in the defensive zone for next season. Now, the Oilers have some major work to do clearing salary cap space to surround their core pieces with enough talent to compete on a deep Stanley Cup Playoff run once again. Over the next 12 hours, it will be interesting to see what moves Stan Bowman and the front office make to position themselves heading into free agency tomorrow.