In today’s video I analyze Bouchard’s play from last night against the Lightning and kind of go over his overall 5 on 5 metrics for the season so far.
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50 Comments
Bouchard has a proclivity for offense let it happen 😂🇨🇦
Love the 😂Language 🔥🇨🇦
The Oilers were just a little better last year, not a lot better. Maybe that small margin of being a slightly better club last year does make a big difference on the ice. On paper the Oilers look relatively the same this year. Sadly, the defensive errors, repeated individual mistakes along with sub par goaltending hasn't really changed from last year. However, last year the Oilers could skate around blind folded shoot the puck and it would go in. Everything was going in last year and as a result the Oilers were scoring their way out of errors and mistakes on a nightly basis. The massive miscalculation Holland made this past summer was huge. A miscalculation that I would call a season killer. Holland bought into the idea that what goes up will never come down. He believed in his mind, his team will just keep scoring their way out of trouble. Having no Plan B Holland now has put himself and the Organization in a position of getting royally fleeced now desperately needing to make "an emergency trade". It's like needing to sell your house tomorrow. Holland now painfully realizes that what goes up will always comes down. With Holland not addressing any of the core issues this past summer one could argue that Holland can be greatly, not entirely, but greatly responsible for killing the Edmonton Oilers 2023 2024 season. The question is who or what will save it?
😂LFG🔥🇨🇦
Yes! exactly! Nurse is over paid for the player he is and the mental mistakes he is costing the Oilers!
Goalie Technique is a big part of Goalie coach Schwartz! This Guy shouldve been fire a long time ago! #FireDustinSchwartz
Evan Bouchard has to bear some of the responsibility when coming back late in this play
Nurse was just coming onto the ice in this clip.
I don't mind the giveaway. It's was a multitude of things on the 3rd goal that get me. Late backcheck from Bouch, Nurse with bad positioning. Either one could have cut Eyssimont off prior to pass. Bad positioning from Skinner.
What do you think of Bouch pinching up on the 2nd TB goal?
Bouchard is a high risk/reward player. The D need to hang back to cover his play as you seen from what Nurse needed to do. You say he almost did this and almost did that. What he is consistent in is making a bad decisions. We dont have time for Bouchard to figure it out.
#TheOilerFanatic 😉
Nurse is just a fuckn PYLON in general
He's not the problem. He's just part of the problem. The guy doesn't play defense, and makes the same mistakes over and over and over and over ..etc.
As I said before this season even started "Nurse an Bouch should never be a pairing". Woody figured that out way to late.
The wheres our D savior?? Coffee?? Lmao…. wtf does he know about defense??? Another. 10 yrs of darkness coming again, and fire shwartz
Nurse does not have much for hockey smarts, never has and doesn’t learn year after year
I would say….biggest at fault here is Skinner way late reaction and couldn't get over time time next is all 3 forwards going too deep…Draisaitl eager to get to his one timer spot ….If you think Nurse should have been way up on blue line with 3 forwards lurking that's would be insane pinch and Bouch was on his wrong side, but Nurse could have been up a bit more and Skinner should have had that shot all day.
Maybe not THE problem, but certainly A problem. It's not just the mistakes. In the last Seattle game Bouchard was bullied off the puck by Kailer Yamamoto, who is something like 7 inches shorter and 35 pounds lighter than he is, a play that led to a goal. That's not ther only time, either. Too often we see him cough up the puck to a forecheck way too easily or fail to dig in and engage in front of the goal.
We all love the Bouch bomb and his offense is helpful but if you're an NHL defenseman you have to do NHL defenseman things sometimes. Mixing it up in the corners, along the boards, and in front of the goal is part of the job description. He's got the size, he just doesn't seem to have the mentality for it. It's a problem.
yep goalteng asap nurse over rated therefore overpaid
Nurse was actually just watching Bouche instead of actually playing defense.
Nurse has to go. Way too many bonehead plays
I agree with your break down. So many mistakes were made in this game, and I agree with he fucked up the least in that play imo. I think Bouchard gets jumped on a lot because he's in the heat getting burned which is more than we can say about other defenseman right now.
Anyone who knows hockey can see his defensive play is suspect. Saying his numbers would be better if his teammates bailed him out doesn’t excuse his poor play, he needs to improve it himself along with his teammates. Offensively skilled D-man who should (hopefully) improve defensively and benefit the team… right now he’s a wash
Do you think Nurse might not have covered Jeannot well because he wasn’t confident in Bouchard’s coverage of the puck carrier on that play?
He’s a terrible defender, just so soft back there. Nurse wasn’t great that play, but bouch doesn’t get it deep and then hangs around too long.
Good analysis. What I dont understand is why Oilers staff and coaches are not doing the analysis and why players are caught puck watching rather than moving into empty spaces (offensive) or covering their player (defense)
Bouchard makes mistakes that costs goals almost every single game. In some of them; it's several mistakes per game that result in scoring chances for the other team. A lot of them are mental mistakes, some are lack of effort. It's very frustrating to watch. He's such an offensive talent; I just wish he'd pay some attention to defense. As far as Nurse on that play; he played that exactly the way he is supposed to. He can't challenge Jeannot and leave the center of the ice in front of his net wide open for the trailer to skate into. There is lots of blame to go around in Edmonton, but jeez stop making excuses for Bouchard please. Defensively he's absolutely terrible. And I mean terrible. Offensively he's extremely dynamic. Just hoping his defensive game comes around.
bouch isn't the problem, really it's only his second full yr plenty of time to refine his game. Nurse however shouldn't be doing these kinda plays as a veteran in this league he should be better. Oilers losing klefbom n sekeras was huge and thier defense core hasn't recovered. It is what it is. Have to make do till they have more cap space.
I'm not going to defend Nurse or even Draisaitl on that play but Bouchard has absolutely no idea how to defend. It takes him forever to realize what's going on and once he does he chases a player he has little chance to catch. Nurse can't leave the front of the net because the player has Bouchard beat but if he goes to the traiing player then Nurse can commit to the puck carrier and maybe stop the goal. Every criticism placed on Bouchard is absolutely warranted because he plays a very lazy game and doesn't have the same instincts defensively as offensively and doesn't seem to show a willingness to learn. The other day, on a simple rim around the boards he casually played a puck that deflected off him providing a grade A scoring chance. That is absolutely unacceptable at this level and at this stage of his career given his contact.
bouchard could've just put the puck deep, and his lack of backcheck until the last moment was shocking
You seemed surprised that Nurse is the problem. He is a terrible defenseman. Most of the oilers defense can't play defense. A good defense is a good offense is not a cup winning strategy, and until they completely revamp their defense they will stay unsuccessful.
So you blame nurse for coming onto a line change on an offensive rush not being there for Bouchard to pass to. And then not taking the shot man on a 2v2 which only happened because Bouchard is so crossed eyed he can make the simple play.
1. Play along the boards and fire it down for a cycle, hence why driastl is below the Center dot of circle waiting for that very simple and basic play. This would have kept possession and wouldn’t have ending up in the oilers net.
2. If not confident in your back hand to make it around the net why not fire it on net or possible pass to the Center in the middle of the ice.
3. Realize you are up a goal and pass back to your defence partner causing adelayed offside and regroup for an attack.
But your right panicking and throwing to an open area without looking was not his fault.
Evan Bouchard is a nightmare defensively and for every shot he takes at the opponents net he misses 8 times out of 10 I could shoot the pick better than that and I’m 75 … need to trade him as part of a package on a decent goale
Yes. Douchard IS the problem. Worst take ever. Nurse recognized there was pressure on Bouch, who was playing as casually as he ever does(just slow in general, soft puck movement, poor passing instincts, poor passing accuracy, poor general awareness), so he backed off- which turned out to be the right play. you said yourself, 3 men were in deep. . obviously the play is to back off. This is very standard positioning. then, with most odd man rushes, and bouch lagging behind, Nurse did the correct thing in splitting both players. If anything Bouch should have picked up the late man in so nurse could handle the puck carrier. but you never give an open lane to the puck carrier, OBVIOUSLY..
And your critique of skinner was hilarious.. you're sayin he was out of position literally 1 millisecond after the puck was passed lol.. you paused it as soon as the puck left his stick and said he was out of position.. like WHAT? These cross ice plays are one of the main reasons Stew is letting so many shots in. . I mean, he's playing trash, dont get me wrong. but it seems you're wanting to blame everyone BUT bouchard despite the fact he has BY FAR the worst turnover rate vs TOI.. last season as well as this season.
So many times I see Nurse just standing still, puck watching just like that when the carrier is being covered and leaves his man wide open.
To agree with another person's comment, Nurse came in on change. You have to be honest when evaluating this clip. Bouchard could have flipped it to the corner deep and got back. However, he, just like a lot of the forwards cheat for offense and Bouchard never takes a hit to make a play. Again this play is a 3 on 1 with Nurse essentially playing a 2 on 1 as no forward is in the picture.
Are you not happy with 9mil+ defenseman, darnell nurse? 😂😂
It's goaltending, the Oilers always had problems with that. They need a consistent goalie that can stop pucks.
He should have put the puck low on his back hand and poof you are all set. But nope he’s a turnover king.
God damn nurse is bad
Great analysis
People were trashing Bouch over this? Figures
Nurse has always been a gaping hole in the defensive line. They should get rid of him and free up cap space for 2 really solid players.
So what about all the other turnovers that Bouchard regularly make? He seems to turn the puck over at least 4 times per game. Yes he is good offensively, but his defensive game is weak. I have been saying this for over a season and a half! This last one was purely a panic pass and he had plenty of time to scan for other players. For the last 3 games, there has been a defenseman outside the o zone to help prevent an easy turnover. The second D doesn't get into the ozone unless they confidently control the puck.
Since October 26th Bouchard has the best goals against rate per 60 of all Defensemen on the team. (2.10 GA/60). Nurse is 6th at 3.16 GA/60. When it comes to shots against per 60 Bouchard is 2nd best at 23.58 SA/60. Nurse is dead last at 34.39 SA/60. Our 9.25 Million Dollar #1 dman is getting SHELLED yet our cheap affordable point per game D-man is not only putting up some of the best defensive metrics on the team, but he's also the whipping boy for every goal against for some reason. Make it make sense.
Bouch has brain farts… Big time. It's very obvious.
4:07
“Darnell Nurse it’s not like he had just came on the ice for a change or anything”
I just went on Sportsnet to rewatch cause I couldn’t think of any other reason for why it’s so empty, especially since Bouch usually has Ekholm pinned to his hip.
…Nurse is literally just jumping on the ice. They have it in the offensive zone, then Tampa pushes the other way so we miss a change opening, Ekholm battles in the corner then when we break the other way and Ekholm is literally skating at walking pace to the bench and waving for someone to jump on for him…
Like it’s a complete fabrication to blame Nurse for not being there. Ekholm was gassed but even with that Nurse jumps over the wall with Ekholm still firmly in the D zone heading over.
It’s very annoying that this guy says “let’s rewind to the very start of the play” and then rewinds to us already in the zone with the line change in progress off screen…
The guy is UNCOACHABLE. Maybe try him out on forward, he certainly is no d-man.
That 1st video is totally Bouchard's fault, if he didn't have a brain cramp to begin with and chase the puck into the Lightning end, he would have had time to cover the puck carrier. You would learn that in junior.
LOL HE SUCKS!!! For an NHL'er. Oh and Nurse is the worst dman in the league. HE FUCKING SUCKS WOW!!!
My 2 cents ……… Holland Your Family is calling …. “ I am leaving the Oilers to spend more time with my Family “ ! HURRY UP. and take YOUR $ 9.25 SLUG with you !!!!!!!
First off, Bouchard’s partner is Ekholm, so Nurse was jumping on the ice from a change, that’s why he was out of position. It was not an odd man rush, it was 2 on 2. There was a third man coming into the play also. You need to show Bouchard in our zone defending corners and in front of the net. That’s what we blame Bouchard on, not in the offensive zone.
As a former NCAA div 1 defensemen, I think you missed a very important part breaking down this play. First off, coming up the ice a) he should know that his d partner is changing and that he does not have support on the line across the blue line when he takes control of the puck. b) He makes a risky play turning his back to the net when he picks up the puck again in a part of the ice where he has no support behind him. He had the option to just play it on his forhand and dump it behind the net and let hyman or draisaitl retrieve the puck which in my opinion is what draisaitl was anticipating and why he was so deep in the zone. c) Even after he picked it up facing towards his own net he had the opportunity to backhand it down the boards, another much safer play. d) Bouchard plays the right side and nurse coming on the ice would have expected bouchard to hustle his ass to get in his position. If he wants to stay on the left he has to scream at nurse that he's doing that.
There are a lot of aspects to this play that he just straight fucked up. I don't think he deserves as much flak as he gets but he definitely was the one at fault on this play.