Evan Bouchard Shines in Playoffs, Drawing Comparisons to Cale Makar

During the series against the Dallas Stars, Evan Bouchard displayed outstanding performance, excelling both at 5-on-5 plays and on power plays. Throughout the six games, Bouchard managed to accumulate a total of six points, bringing his tally to an impressive 27 points in 18 matches. Truly remarkable, isn’t it?

With such a spring harvest, Bouchard is once again showcased, much like in the regular season, in the same league as Cale Makar. No, he may not surpass Makar, but he certainly finds himself on equal footing.

In the 2022 postseason, Makar, who lifted the prestigious Stanley Cup this spring, concluded with a monstrous total of 29 points in 20 games. After 18 matches, Makar also boasted 27 points. These two young men became the only two defensemen in the salary cap era to achieve this feat.

This colossal point total allowed Makar to secure the renowned Conn-Smythe trophy, a scenario that could unfold for Bouchard… if the Oilers clinch the championship.

Bouchard is establishing himself as a premier force, even having Quinn Hughes in his back pocket during the intense encounters between the Vancouver Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.

However, while playing inspired hockey and emerging as one of the finest soldiers on the blue line, his teammates Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid have a slight edge over him in the race for the ultimate honor.

If the Panthers claim the grand honors and a player from the team is selected, Sam Bennett must be part of the conversation for various reasons. First, since his return to the lineup against the Boston Bruins, he immediately made an impact to tip the scales.