Evan Bouchard makes powerful move as Edmonton Oilers hand him four year $42 million contract

The Edmonton Oilers have made a big move right before the free agent window opens. Fans were wondering what the team would do next. The news came out on Monday, but not directly from the team at first. Reports started spreading quickly online. Everyone began talking about one name, Evan Bouchard. His future with the Oilers was uncertain, but now a big decision has been made that surprised many fans and experts.On Monday, July 1, 2025, Evan Bouchard, a top defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers, signed a four-year contract worth $42 million. This was confirmed by trusted outlets like Sportsnet and TSN. The deal comes just one day before the NHL free agent market officially opens on Tuesday. Bouchard was about to become a restricted free agent.The 25-year-old player from Oakville, Ontario, will now earn an average of $10.5 million each season, a major increase from his last contract’s $3.9 million cap hit. Bouchard was drafted 10th overall by Edmonton in 2018 and has become a key part of the team’s success. He helped lead the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances.Last season, Bouchard had a career-best performance with 18 goals and 64 assists in 81 games. He followed that with 32 points in 25 playoff games. Only one defenseman in NHL history, Bobby Orr, has a higher average for points per playoff game than Bouchard’s 1.08.Evan Bouchard’s strong shot from the blue line, known as the “Bouch Bomb,” has become one of Edmonton’s best weapons. After the deal, many fans and experts praised the team’s decision to keep him long term. Bouchard has not made a public statement yet, but Oilers insider Mark Spector tweeted, “Big win for the Oilers. Bouchard is a core piece.”Also on Monday, the Oilers signed winger Kasperi Kapanen to a one-year, $1.3 million deal. Kapanen had 13 points in 57 regular-season games and added 6 in the playoffs. The team also signed Noah Philp, a center, to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000.Edmonton forwards Corey Perry, Connor Brown, and Jeff Skinner, and defenseman John Klingberg, are still not signed. Star player Connor McDavid becomes eligible to sign an extension on Tuesday. His current contract has one year left.Also Read: Brad Marchand Agrees To Massive Six Year Extension With Florida Panthers After Trade From Bruins