Reid Boucher

Reid Boucher
Boucher with the Utica Comets in 2019
Born	(1993-09-08) September 8, 1993 (age 31) Grand Ledge, Michigan, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	194 lb (88 kg; 13 st 12 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Left
KHL team Former teams	Avangard Omsk New Jersey Devils Nashville Predators Vancouver Canucks Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
NHL draft	99th overall, 2011 New Jersey Devils
Playing career	2012–present

Reid Boucher (born September 8, 1993) is an American professional ice hockey player. He is currently playing with Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Boucher has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks after being selected by the Devils in the fourth round (99th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Playing career

As a youth, Boucher played in the 2006 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Compuware minor ice hockey team.[2]

Junior

In his second season with the Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League, Boucher broke the former 58 goals in a season record in the team held by NHL player Steven Stamkos with his fifth hat trick in the season against Saginaw Spirit.[3] Boucher was rewarded for his outstanding play during the 2012–13 OHL season by being named to the OHL's First All-Star Team.[4]

Professional

New Jersey Devils

On March 13, 2013, the New Jersey Devils signed Boucher to a three-year entry-level contract.[5][6] Reid scored one goal and had two assists in his first game with Albany in the 2012–13 season debut on March 30, 2013.[7]

On December 4, 2013, Boucher was promoted to the Devils for the first time, following an injury to Ryan Carter.[8] He got an assist and was plus 2 in his debut and became the first Devil to score in a shootout that season.[9] Boucher scored his first NHL goal on December 18, 2013, against Robin Lehner of the Ottawa Senators in a 5–2 win.[10]

In the 2016–17 season, having made the Devils opening season roster, Boucher was unable to make an impact in a depth role, appearing in just 9 games over the opening months of the season with the Devils.

Nashville Predators

On December 3, 2016, Boucher's 6-year tenure with the Devils ended as he was claimed off waivers by the Nashville Predators.[11] He made his debut with Nashville the following day against the Philadelphia Flyers before he was sent on an conditioning assigned to affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals on December 12, 2016.[12]

Vancouver Canucks

On January 1, 2017, Boucher was placed on waivers by the Predators.[13] The following day, he was reclaimed by the Devils,[14] but was again waived on January 3.[15] On January 4, 2017, Boucher was claimed by the Vancouver Canucks.[16] Boucher was scratched in all but one of the Canucks' games in January before drawing into the roster. He scored his first goal with Vancouver on February 28 against the Detroit Red Wings, scoring a late game-tying goal before the Canucks lost 3–2 in overtime.[17] On March 25, he recorded his first multi-goal game; scoring twice in a 4–2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.[18]

On July 24, 2017, the Canucks re-signed Boucher to a one-year, one-way contract worth $687,500, avoiding arbitration.[19]

Avangard Omsk

After four seasons within the Canucks organization and failing to appear in the NHL during the 2019–20 season, Boucher as an impending free agent opted to pursue a career abroad by agreeing to an initial one-year contract with Russian club, Avangard Omsk of the KHL, on June 23, 2020.[20] In the 2020–21 season, Boucher quickly established himself as an instrumental part of the offence, contributing with 24 goals and 24 assists for 48 points in just 51 regular season games to lead the club in scoring. He contributed with 17 points through 21 playoff contests, helping Avangard claim the Gagarin Cup for the first time in franchise history.

Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

On June 11, 2021, Boucher was traded by Avangard to Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in exchange for financial compensation. He was then signed to a two-year contract extension with Lokomotiv.[21] Boucher completed the regular season with Lokomotiv, compiling 12 goals and 27 points through 46 games. Before appearing in the playoffs, his contract was terminated by the team on January 23, 2022 .[22]

Return to Avangard

As a free agent moving into the off-season following his release from Lokomotiv, Boucher agreed to return to former KHL club, Avangard Omsk, signing a one-year contract on June 18, 2022.[23]

Sexual assault

In January 2022, Boucher pleaded guilty to "sexually assaulting a minor" in 2011; the girl he assaulted was 12 at the time and he was 17.[24]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2009–10	U.S. NTDP Juniors	USHL		24	10	4	14	22		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	U.S. NTDP U17	USDP		41	17	13	30	38		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	U.S. NTDP U18	USDP		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	U.S. NTDP Juniors	USHL		24	14	6	20	13		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	U.S. NTDP U18	USDP		57	32	22	54	35		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Sarnia Sting	OHL		67	28	22	50	19		6	2	1	3	4
2011–12	Albany Devils	AHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Sarnia Sting	OHL		68	62	33	95	53		4	2	3	5	4
2012–13	Albany Devils	AHL		11	3	2	5	6		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Albany Devils	AHL		56	22	16	38	10		4	1	0	1	0
2013–14	New Jersey Devils	NHL		23	2	5	7	4		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Albany Devils	AHL		62	15	15	30	36		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	New Jersey Devils	NHL		11	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	New Jersey Devils	NHL		39	8	11	19	6		—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	Albany Devils	AHL		34	19	13	32	4		11	4	6	10	4
2016–17	New Jersey Devils	NHL		9	0	2	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Nashville Predators	NHL		3	1	0	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Milwaukee Admirals	AHL		5	4	1	5	0		—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		27	5	2	7	6		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Utica Comets	AHL		45	25	21	46	35		3	3	0	3	0
2017–18	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		20	3	2	5	0		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Utica Comets	AHL		56	31	31	62	16		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	Utica Comets	AHL		53	34	33	67	45		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Avangard Omsk	KHL		51	24	24	48	49		21	8	9	17	16
2021–22	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl	KHL		46	12	15	27	40		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Avangard Omsk	KHL		64	31	24	55	65		14	9	6	15	6
2023–24	Avangard Omsk	KHL		64	44	34	78	34		12	9	2	11	8
NHL totals				133	20	22	42	18		—	—	—	—	—
KHL totals				225	111	97	208	188		47	26	17	43	30

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World U18 Championships
	2011 Germany
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
	2008 Canada

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2010	United States	U17		6	2	5	7	2
2011	United States	U18		6	8	2	10	8
Junior totals				12	10	7	17	10

Awards and honours

Award	Year
OHL
First All-Star Team	2012–13	[25]
Sarnia Sting Single Season Goalscoring Record	2012–13	[26]
AHL
All-Star Game	2018, 2019, 2020	[27]
First All-Star Team	2020	[28]
KHL
Gagarin Cup (Avangard Omsk)	2021	[29]

References

1. "Reid Boucher Player Card". Ontario Hockey League. 2013-03-16. Archived from the original on 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
2. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2019-01-06.
3. "Sarnia's Boucher eclipses Stamkos' goal record" NHL.com. 2013-03-02. Retrieved March 16, 2013
4. Griffith Named OHL First Team All-Star
5. "Devils sign Reid Boucher to entry-level deal" NHL.com. 2013-03-13. Retrieved March 16, 2013
6. "Devils sign Reid Boucher to entry-level deal" sarniasting.com. 2013-03-13. Retrieved March 16, 2013
7. "Pirates 5, Devils 4". American Hockey League. 2013-03-30. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
8. Twitter / NHLDevils: #DevilsFacts: Reid Boucher was recalled from @AlbanyDevils and will make his @NHL debut tonight. He leads Albany with 10 goals.
9. "Montréal Canadiens - New Jersey Devils - December 4th, 2013".
10. "Devils defeat Senators; Jagr moves up lists" NHL.com. 2013-12-18. Retrieved December 19, 2013
11. "Preds claim Reid Boucher off waivers". Nashville Predators. 2016-12-03. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
12. "Two assigned to Milwaukee, one on assignment". Nashville Predators. 2016-12-12. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
13. "Predators' Reid Boucher: Placed on waivers Sunday". CBSSports.com. January 1, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
14. Gross, Andrew (January 2, 2017). "Boucher returns, Auvitu sent down, Hall to play". North Jersey. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
15. Ryan, Chris (January 3, 2017). "Devils waive Reid Boucher (again): Explaining the messy situation". NJ.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
16. Gross, Andrew (January 4, 2017). "Devs lose Boucher again on waivers as Canucks claim him". North Jersey. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
17. "Red Wings defeat Canucks in overtime". nhl.com. 2017-02-28. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
18. "Wild fail to clinch playoff berth again". nhl.com. 2017-03-25. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
19. "Canucks re-sign Reid Boucher". The Province. 2017-07-24. Retrieved 2017-07-24.
20. "American forward Reid Boucher in Avangard" (in Russian). Avangard Omsk. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
21. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (June 11, 2021). "Boucher traded to Lokomotiv" (in Russian). Facebook. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
22. "Allhockey.ru: Источник: "Локомотив" принял решение относительно Буше". Allhockey.ru. Retrieved 2022-01-24.
23. "Knight and Boucher are back with Avangard" (in Russian). Avangard Omsk. June 18, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
24. Moran, Darcie (January 14, 2022). "Ex-NHL player from Michigan gets deal in sex assault case — and survivor is 'disgusted'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
25. "OHL Announces 2012-13 All-Star Teams". Ontario Hockey League. 2013-04-02. Retrieved 2013-04-02.
26. "Sarnia's Boucher eclipses Stamkos' goal record". New Jersey Devils. 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
27. "Bracco, Liljegren added to All-Star roster". American Hockey League. 2020-01-26. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
28. "2019-20 AHL First, Second All-Star Team announced". American Hockey League. May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
29. "Avangard is crowned 2021 Gagarin Cup Champions" (in Russian). Kontinental Hockey League. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.

External links

• Media related to Reid Boucher at Wikimedia Commons
• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database