Edmonton Oilers' Evan Bouchard just did something not seen in over 100 years
Evan Bouchard is rewriting the NHL record book to start the season.
It’s no secret that Bouchard has had an incredible stretch to begin the 2026-27 campaign. Everything the 26-year-old defender has touched seems to have found the back of the opposition’s net, with a league-leading six goals and 11 points through just four games.
Bouchard kicked off the season by becoming the first defenceman to score a hat trick in a season opener since 1980 and the first defenceman in NHL history to notch five points in the first game of the season.
Even Oilers head coach Mike Babcock has been surprised by how good Bouchard has been.
Those are incredible feats by themselves, but the Oakville, Ont., native has continued to break new ground. On Saturday, Bouchard became the first defenceman to score six goals through the first four games of the season since Harry Cameron scored eight at the start of the 1917-18 season, which was also the first-ever NHL season.
The Oilers superstar is truly in some rarefied air.
Evan Bouchard now has a league-leading six goals through four games this season šØ
The only other defenseman to score as many through his first four games of a campaign is Harry Cameron in the FIRST YEAR of the leagueās existence š³ pic.twitter.com/p10VCEVx29
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) October 8, 2026
Bouchard’s 11 points have also put him in some exclusive company, as he ties Bobby Orr with the second-most points scored by an NHL defenceman through four games. The only player to score more is Cameron, who notched an incredible 14 points to edge both Bouchard and Orr by three points.
He is the first defenceman to hit the 11-point mark this early since Orr did so at the start of the 1975-76 NHL season.
Evan Bouchard ties Bobby Orr for the 2nd-most points by a defenceman through the first 4 games of a season in NHL history:
Harry Cameron (1917-18) – 14
Evan Bouchard (2026-27) – 11
Bobby Orr (1975-76) – 11#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/lwtOYJYhY6— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) October 8, 2026
That isn’t all, however, as you can get even more technical about Bouchard’s magnificent start. According to 880 CHED’s Bob Stauffer, he also became the first NHL defenceman ever to record 10 or more points, while also being +10 through the first four games of the season.
It seems that Bouchard is breaking all sorts of new ground lately.
The @EdmontonOilers Evan Bouchard is the first defenceman in NHL history to have 10+ points and go +10 in the first 4 games to start a season. pic.twitter.com/xYxvjyWnz4
— Bob Stauffer (@Bob_Stauffer) October 8, 2026
If Bouchard can keep it up, he could wind up being a serious threat for not only the Norris Trophy, but the Hart Trophy as well.