Uncomfortable question arises for the Oilers after Norris Trophy nominees involve a snubbing
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Daniel Lucente
May 7, 2026 (12:36)
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Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Evan Bouchard just gave Kris Knoblauch another Oilers pressure point after missing the Norris Trophy finalist cut.
The finalists are Rasmus Dahlin, Cale Makar, and Zach Werenski. That leaves Bouchard outside the top three, and that's the part Edmonton fans won't let slide.
This isn't a token outrage case. Bouchard finished with 21 goals, 74 assists, and 95 points from the blue line.
For a defenseman on a team built around attacking layers, controlled entries, and a loaded power play, that kind of output usually forces voters to pause.
The official finalist graphic landed: Dahlin, Makar, Werenski, and no Bouchard. The visual says everything before the debate even starts.
The second post captured the Edmonton reaction before the fan base had time to cool down: Oilers fans were never going to take this quietly.
Bouchard's omission puts the Oilers' blue line back under the microscope
Bouchard averaged 24:40, drove Edmonton's puck movement, and still carried the weight of every mistake because of his role.
That's the contract of a true No. 1 defenseman, not a sheltered specialist. When the Oilers needed a first pass, a power-play touch, or a point shot threat, he was central.
But voters often punish risk. Bouchard's game includes stretch passes, aggressive blue-line holds, and reads that can look ugly when they miss.
That's where Knoblauch's usage matters. Edmonton kept leaning on him because the Oilers don't have another right-shot defenseman who tilts the ice the same way.
Makar has the name value. Dahlin carried a Buffalo surge. Werenski had the all-situations case in Columbus.
Bouchard's case was offense, volume, and responsibility. Leaving that outside the top three turns the snub into a league-wide argument, not just an Edmonton complaint.
The Oilers' season ended earlier than expected, and that likely hurt him. Award ballots rarely separate player value from team finish as cleanly as voters claim.
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