Oilers star is already exposing Mike Babcock after first week of season

Evan Bouchard is off to the kind of start that stops fans mid-scroll, and he's crediting his new head coach for part of it.

The Edmonton Oilers defenceman has four goals and four assists through three games.

He says Mike Babcock has been on him to sharpen his details and compete a little harder, and he believes it's working for him and for the group.

That's a notable shift in tone for a player who spent the summer hearing criticism about his own end, even after a 95-point season that led all NHL defencemen.

Bouchard had a hat trick and two assists in the 6-5 overtime loss to Vancouver on opening night, becoming the first defenceman in NHL history with five points in a season opener.

Two nights later he added a goal and two assists in a 9-7 win, and his eight points through two games set a record for a defenceman.

He didn't add to the total in Saturday's 3-1 win over Seattle, but he played 27:01 and finished plus-1.

The league named him its second star of the week.

Babcock was hired this summer after the Oilers parted ways with Kris Knoblauch, and Bouchard has been open about wanting to simplify the defensive side of his game.

After the opener he said the team needed to be far more detailed after giving up so many odd-man rushes.

Edmonton allowed 13 goals in its first two games, then held the Kraken to one.

That's a small sample, but it's the direction the coaching staff wants to see.

Eight points is eye-catching. A steady defensive effort night after night would be the real test for Bouchard and the Oilers.

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