In a shocking transfer throughout Thursday’s sport in opposition to the Boston Bruins, the Edmonton Oilers made a significant change to their defensive pairings, a primary this season. Head coach Kris Knoblauch selected to separate the long-standing duo of Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard. The swap, which noticed Ekholm skating with Ty Emberson and Bouchard paired with Brett Kulak, raises questions in regards to the confidence Edmonton has within the Bouchard and Ekholm pairing and, maybe, whether or not Bouchard’s position on the workforce is altering for the higher or worse.
As Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic points out, since Ekholm’s arrival from Nashville on February 28, 2023, he and Bouchard have been a continuing pairing. They’ve performed 101 video games collectively beneath head coach Chris Knoblauch and assistant Paul Coffey. So, to see this pairing cut up up was odd. To listen to Ekholm — who has been Bouchard’s greatest advocate — say he was excited for a brand new companion was additionally a tad alarming.
“It was good to see a distinct companion and get out of your consolation zone slightly bit,” stated Ekholm. He added, “We would have liked a spark for the entire D corps and the entire workforce.”
This isn’t to say that Ekholm wished a distinct companion or to be cut up from Bouchard. And, maybe, this is only one sport and never about Bouchard in any respect. However now that the coaches know breaking these two up can and can work, followers ought to anticipate to see it extra typically.
Is Oilers Change Good or Dangerous Information?
This pairing has been probably the most constant within the league, so what prompted this abrupt change? Some consider that Ekholm has been the calming presence for Bouchard and a crucial piece to make sure the latter can play his type of sport with out fear. A spark is one factor. It’s the identical motive the coaches wish to put Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman collectively when the offense isn’t clicking. However was this about confidence in others (Emberson and Kulak) or a insecurity in Bouchard?
It’s exhausting to know the reply apart from to say that Bouchard has had a rougher 12 months than most would have anticipated. Coming off of a unbelievable 2023-24 season, he’s turn out to be fairly the polarizing participant in Edmonton. If Ekholm is on the level the place he’s open to a brand new companion (frankly, enthusiastic about it), what does that say? Perhaps nothing. Maybe I’m reaching.
By way of influence, the brand new pairings confirmed some promise. The Bouchard-Kulak duo had a strong 10-6 shot try benefit in simply 8:34 of five-on-five play.
Ekholm and Bouchard Break up: Non permanent Repair or Common Go-To?
Knoblauch admitted that the Oilers wanted a change, acknowledging that it wasn’t the perfect sport Bouchard and Ekholm had performed collectively. “We wished to alter some issues up,” he stated. “A brand new companion offers gamers a distinct outlook, hopefully, slightly power, slightly extra focus to their sport.”
Whereas it’s clear that the teaching workers was searching for a spark, it stays to be seen whether or not this transformation is a one-time adjustment or a sign of deeper points. Bouchard, nonetheless a key a part of the Oilers’ future, might not have misplaced his place completely, however the tinkering raises questions on how they see him. Is he somebody that may be pushed down the lineup? Or, ought to followers even see this as a demotion? Bouchard performed extra minutes at 25:52 than he had up to now 5 video games.
Perhaps it wasn’t about Bouchard in any respect.
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