Evan Bouchard drives historic start as Oilers blue‑liner rewrites records

Evan Bouchard’s blistering start to the season continued Thursday in Edmonton, as the Oilers defenceman piled up another three points against the Vancouver Canucks to cap a record‑setting first week.

Coming off a season opener in which he recorded a hat trick and five points in an overtime loss to the visiting Canucks, Bouchard struck again in the rematch. By the time the second period ended, he had already produced one goal and two assists, further stretching an early surge that has put him in rare company.

New NHL mark for points in first two games

Those three points lifted Bouchard to eight on the season, establishing a new NHL record for the most points by a defenceman in his team’s first two games. The previous benchmark of seven had stood since 1917, when Harry Cameron set it with the Toronto Arenas.

By eclipsing a standard that had survived for more than a century, Bouchard has placed his name alongside some of the game’s early offensive blueliners, while doing so in back‑to‑back contests against the same opponent.

Opening night already in the history books

Bouchard’s season debut on Tuesday had already entered the record book on its own. His hat trick versus Vancouver was the first by a defenceman in a season opener since Mark Howe accomplished the feat in 1980 with the Hartford Whalers.

The performance was notable for more than just the three goals. Bouchard also became the first defenceman in league history to produce five points in a season opener, an offensive outburst that set the stage for the record he would claim two nights later.

Building on a career‑best campaign in Edmonton

At 26, the former London Knights standout is extending the momentum from a breakout 2025‑26 season. He is coming off career highs of 21 goals, 74 assists and 95 points in 82 games, numbers that already established him as a focal point of the Oilers’ attack from the back end.

These early‑season milestones underline how central Bouchard has become to Edmonton’s offence, regardless of game result. With two games in the books and multiple records already to his name, his start raises expectations for what he might accomplish over the full schedule.