Evan Bouchard is set to become the fourth defenceman in the NHL to earn over $10 million per year next season, having signed a four-year, $10.5 million AAV deal with the Edmonton Oilers earlier this week.

It’d be easy to look at Evan Bouchard’s new contract with a gaping mouth. It’d be simpler still, now that he’s set to become the NHL’s fourth-highest-paid defenseman, to fret about what that means for the Edmonton Oilers’ chances of competing for the Stanley Cup not only next season but for years to come.

The Edmonton Oilers have re-signed Evan Bouchard to a new four-year contract. Now we grade the deal for both the player and the franchise.