Oilers HC Kris Knoblauch provides major update on Evan Bouchard's injury 

As the Edmonton Oilers continue preparations to face the Vegas Golden Knights, there wasn't a clear picture of whether or not they would have the services of defenseman Evan Bouchard.

He was hit by Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman in the closing minutes of Thursday's 7-1 victory at Xcel Energy Center and departed; he didn't return.

However, the good news for the Oilers and their top-pairing defenseman is that he could be playing on Saturday against the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch explained that his injury wasn't serious and that there was a 50-50 chance Bouchard could suit up against the Golden Knights. He's expected to be evaluated on Saturday and will be designated a game-time decision.

“Obviously, he didn’t skate today,” Knoblauch said. “He will get evaluated tomorrow and he will be a game-time decision.

“It’s nothing major — we don’t think it is. And tomorrow we’ll find out. It’s probably 50-50 (for Bouchard) to play tomorrow.”

In 29 games so far in the 2024-25 NHL season, Bouchard has scored six goals and 16 assists.

Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard may have escaped serious injury

The play in question took place late in the third period of Edmonton's blowout victory over the Wild. He was hit by Hartman and crashed headfirst into the net and goaltender Calvin Pickard.

He was eventually able to pick himself up off the ice and skate slowly back to the bench.

Afterward, Knoblauch explained that the incident could have resulted in serious injury had it not been for Pickard absorbing some of the blow that Bouchard felt while falling to the net and ice.

“Their player just hit Bouch into the net and, obviously, he falls in rather awkwardly,” Knoblauch. “It could have been really bad if Picks hadn’t been there, it looks like he probably would have put his head off the post.

“But again, Picks made another big save, so he (Bouchard) just got banged up a little bit.”

A native of Ontario, Bouchard was taken with the 10th overall pick by the Oilers in the 2018 National Hockey League Draft. He first got his feet wet at the NHL level by playing in 14 games during the abbreviated 2020-21 NHL season, which was still at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He contributed six goals with 26 assists during Edmonton's thrilling run to the Stanley Cup Final last spring.