Despite Bouchard's hot start, Mike Babcock has no problem criticizing him publicly

Mike Babcock just told everyone Evan Bouchard should be in the Norris race every year, and in the same breath said the Oilers defenceman "can be way better."

"I didn't know he's this good, this talented, saw this many plays, moved the puck as good as he does," Babcock said of coaching Bouchard up close.

Then came the part that raised eyebrows. "We just got to get him to be a little more competitive defensively, and he's already working towards that."

Babcock was asked whether lessons from coaching Lidstrom could carry over. "Lidstrom won seven Norris trophies," he said. "That guy is, like, he did everything perfect."

He didn't want to push that comparison. Instead, he called Bouchard "an elite player already, way better than people think."

The production backs that up. Bouchard has six goals and 11 points through four games, with a +10.

Babcock's praise for Evan Bouchard comes with a defensive challenge

Saying it in front of the media could look like criticism. Read between the lines, though, and it sounds like a coach who believes the player can reach the top of the league.

Babcock praised his pride and drive too. "Any time you want to get better when you got an elite brain, an elite skill, you're going to get better."

He carries a $10,500,000 cap hit, fifth among NHL defencemen. Production like this makes that number easy to justify.

Babcock is handling this the right way. Pushing a star publicly while praising him loudly sets a standard, and Bouchard's numbers say he can handle the pressure.

It's like a teacher writing "A, but you can do better" at the top of the best paper in the class.

The Oilers are 3-0-1 and visit San Jose on Saturday.

If Bouchard tightens up his defensive game, Babcock's Norris talk won't sound like a challenge anymore. It'll sound like a prediction.

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