Pierre LeBrun Drops New Twist in Evan Bouchard's Contract Negotiations With Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are making headlines on a number of fronts. After trading Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks earlier in the day, the team is now focusing on a contract extension for defenceman Evan Bouchard.

Bouchard, a pending restricted free agent, is one year removed from a $3.9 million deal and is due for a hefty raise. Most believed that he would be able to eclipse $10 million annually, given his offensive production and a rising salary cap.

A shorter bridge deal could, however, keep the number more modest, assumedly in the $9 million range per year, and NHL insider Pierre LeBrun strongly believes a four-year deal is the way things will ultimately play out.

This method would give the Oilers some flexibility, especially with only $17 million of cap space to work with this summer and significant signings still to come, including Bouchard and Trent Frederic.

On a long-term basis, Edmonton also needs to remember that an upcoming Connor McDavid extension is on the horizon.

However, there is also a risk in a short-term approach. A three to five-year deal would take Bouchard straight to unrestricted free agency, a situation where the Oilers could lose him for nothing, something the Maple Leafs could face with Mitch Marner.

If the Oilers consider Bouchard a franchise cornerstone, a longer deal may be the safer wager.

Still, if management can finalize a contract soon, it would mark a major win early in Stan Bowman's tenure, giving the team clarity heading into the rest of the offseason.