Evan Bouchard has 75 points in 65 games. He leads every single defenceman in the NHL. Six points clear of Zach Werenski. Seven ahead of Cale Makar. Ten ahead of Quinn Hughes.
That should be enough. It is not that simple.
We have already covered this in detail on The Oil Rig. But the race has tightened since then and the full argument deserves a proper breakdown.
Evan Bouchard 2026 Stats: What He Has Actually Done This Season
The numbers are not subtle. 18 goals. 57 assists. 75 points in 65 games. A points-per-game rate of 1.15, which puts him on pace for around 94 points on a full 82-game season.
Only six defencemen in NHL history have ever reached 90 points in a season. Bobby Orr did it four times. Paul Coffey did it three times. Al MacInnis, Chris Chelios, Brian Leetch, and Denis Potvin each did it once. If Bouchard finishes this season at 94 points, he joins that list.
He is averaging 24 minutes and 44 seconds of ice time per game. Career high. You do not give a defenceman that much ice time if you have doubts about him at both ends.
The last three Norris Trophy winners all led NHL defencemen in scoring the year they won. Makar led the year he won. Quinn Hughes led the year he won. Erik Karlsson led the year he won. Bouchard leads right now. By a lot.
What Draisaitl and Ryan Whitney Said About Bouchard
After Bouchard scored an overtime winner against the Senators, Draisaitl was asked directly about the Norris. He said Bouchard is right up there with Makar and Hughes. He said it might not look as flashy but he gets the job done. That is your linemate, one of the two or three best players in the world, publicly putting Bouchard in that conversation.
Ryan Whitney, former NHLer and current analyst, was even more direct. His reaction after the same OT winner was four words: Norris finalist or we riot. Jason Demers, another former defenceman, said something similar. These are not casual fans. These are people who played the position at the highest level. They know what elite defenceman play looks like.
Norris Trophy 2026 Race: The Main Competitors
The Norris is not a one-man race. Three players are in serious contention.
| Player | Points (GP) | TOI/Game |
| Evan Bouchard | 75 (65) | 24:44 |
| Zach Werenski | 69 (67) | 23:10 |
| Cale Makar | 68 (63) | 25:02 |
| Quinn Hughes | 65 (64) | 24:18 |
Bouchard is first. But the voters will look beyond the points column.
Makar’s defensive metrics are the best of the four. His underlying possession numbers, shot suppression, and defensive zone starts are all elite. He plays in a better defensive system in Colorado. His numbers look cleaner even if his point total is lower.
Werenski is having a career season in Columbus and deserves more attention than he is getting. His offensive numbers are excellent and Columbus has been better defensively than people expected.
Why Bouchard Might Not Win: The Oilers’ Defensive Problem
Edmonton is giving up 3.34 goals against per game. That puts them fifth-worst in the league across 65 games. Bouchard is on the ice for a lot of those goals. Some of them come from the risks he takes to generate offence.
The Norris Trophy criteria, as stated by the NHL, is awarded to the defenceman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability. All-round. Not just offence.
Voters are human. When someone is filling out a Norris ballot in April and trying to decide between Bouchard and Makar, the fact that Edmonton gave up 207 goals this season is somewhere in the picture. That is not fair to Bouchard as an individual. He is not the reason for those goals. But the optics stick.
Makar does not have this problem. Neither does Werenski. Their defensive zone numbers are cleaner and their teams are not mentioned in the same breath as defensive struggles.
Bouchard’s Defensive Numbers Are Better Than His Reputation
Here is what most Norris discussions miss. Bouchard is plus-26 since December 1. That is a top-tier number for any defenceman in the league over that stretch.
His advanced defensive metrics, shot suppression, expected goals against, and high-danger chances against, are all better than Quinn Hughes. He beats Werenski in most of those categories too. The only one who consistently beats him in defensive metrics is Makar.
Fans who dig into this stuff know his defensive numbers are underrated. People who follow betting online player prop markets track Bouchard in both points lines and plus/minus props. His numbers in both hold up well. The casual perception of him as a pure offence player is not accurate. He has gotten significantly better in his own zone since last season.
What Has to Happen for Bouchard to Win the Norris Trophy
Three things need to go right.
First, he finishes first in defenceman scoring. That is almost certain at this point. He has a six-point cushion with 17 games left. Werenski would need to go on a historic run to close that gap.
Second, the Oilers need a strong finish. If Edmonton goes 12-5 down the stretch and locks up a playoff spot comfortably, voters will remember Bouchard as someone who led his team into the postseason. If they stumble, the defensive narrative gets louder.
Third, Makar needs a quiet month. Makar is the best defenceman in the world right now and voters know it. Ryan Whitney said it himself. If you offer Bouchard for Makar straight up, Colorado laughs you out of the room. Makar is better overall. But Bouchard has been better this specific season, and that is what the award is for.
Is Evan Bouchard the Best Defenceman in the NHL Right Now?
Ryan Whitney answered this directly. He said if you offered Bouchard for Makar straight up, Colorado laughs you out of the room. Makar is better. Everyone who watches hockey seriously knows that.
But the Norris Trophy is not awarded for career reputation or long-term value. It is awarded for the best season. And this season, Bouchard has had the better season. The numbers say so clearly.
That is the entire argument in one sentence. Makar is the better player. Bouchard is having the better 2025-26 season. Which one matters more to the voters in April is the question that decides the award.
Evan Bouchard Norris Trophy 2026: FAQ
Does Evan Bouchard lead all NHL defencemen in points in 2026?
Yes. Bouchard has 75 points in 65 games, six ahead of Zach Werenski and seven ahead of Cale Makar as of mid-March 2026.
Who are the main Norris Trophy candidates in 2026?
Evan Bouchard, Cale Makar, Zach Werenski, and Quinn Hughes are the four main candidates. Bouchard leads in points but Makar leads in defensive metrics.
Why might Bouchard not win despite leading in points?
The Oilers rank fifth-worst in goals against per game in 2026. Voters factor in defensive performance and team results when making Norris decisions, not just raw point totals.
What would a 94-point season mean historically for a defenceman?
Only six defencemen in NHL history have reached 90 points in a season. Bouchard is on pace to join Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis, Chris Chelios, Brian Leetch, and Denis Potvin on that list.
The Bottom Line on Bouchard and the Norris Trophy
Evan Bouchard is having one of the best defenceman seasons in 30 years. He leads the league in points. His defensive numbers are better than his critics say. His teammates and former NHLers are publicly making the case for him.
He might not win. The Oilers’ defensive numbers are a real problem for his ballot case. Makar exists and voters love Makar. The all-round criteria can be used against any offensive-minded defenceman.
But the case for Bouchard is real. If you are voting on this season and this season only, the numbers point one way. Track every game he plays down the stretch on the MelBet mobile app where live stats and player props update in real time. The next 17 games will decide this award. You do not want to miss them.
