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]

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

Playing career

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

Junior

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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

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New Jersey Devils

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Regular season and playoffs

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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

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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

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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

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  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.
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