A fter completing a two-year deal expiring on July 1, the Edmonton Oilers wanted to lock in defenseman Evan Bouchard for the long haul. The blueliner's agent had other plans, however, and Bouchard, 25, instead signed a short-term, four-year, $42 million extension with an average annual value of $10.5 million.

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.

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.