Evan Bouchard put his support behind Alex Formenton as Mike Babcock's Oilers prepare for a season carrying an unusual amount of outside attention.
The Edmonton defenceman was asked directly about Formenton after the Oilers' controversial decision to bring the winger into the organization this summer.
Bouchard didn't distance himself from his new teammate. Instead, he made the relationship personal, describing Formenton as one of his good friends.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,” Bouchard said, adding that Formenton has been open with him throughout the process.
That response matters because Edmonton's signing was never going to arrive as an ordinary depth move. Formenton entered the organization with scrutiny already attached to his name.
"Alex is one of my good friends, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. He's been open and honest about this whole process, which has allowed him to be here"
- Evan Bouchard when asked about Formenton
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And now one of the Oilers' most prominent players has publicly backed him before the regular season has even started.
Bouchard makes his position clear on Alex Formenton
Bouchard carries considerable weight inside this locker room. The 26-year-old sits at a $10,500,000 cap hit and is one of Edmonton's biggest long-term investments on the blue line.
That makes his comments more significant than a routine training-camp answer. He had room to stay neutral, redirect the question or keep his response strictly about hockey.
He chose something different. Bouchard defended Formenton's openness with the people around him while acknowledging that others are free to view the situation differently.
That won't end the discussion surrounding the signing. It does give a first indication of how at least one major Oilers player is handling Formenton's arrival inside the room.
Edmonton now has to manage two separate issues at once: what Formenton can provide on the ice and the attention his addition will continue to attract away from it.
Babcock will eventually control the hockey side through deployment, line combinations and roster decisions. General manager Stan Bowman's move has already ensured the questions won't be limited to where Formenton fits in the bottom six.
Bouchard's answer was direct. With camp opening and the Oilers moving toward puck drop, it also made clear that Formenton already has support from an important voice in Edmonton's locker room.
Did Evan Bouchard say too much by publicly backing Alex Formenton?
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