Making it to the NHL hasn’t been easy for Alex Barré-Boulet, he was never drafted and signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization to get his foot in the door. Over his first four season with the Floridian organization, he played 29 games in the NHL and 144 games with their AHL affiliate the Syracuse Crunch. He then landed on waivers where he was claimed by the Seattle Kraken. After two games with the newest expansion team (Utah wasn’t an expansion, just a relocation that took forever and a half), he landed back in Tampa.
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This Summer, seeking more stability for his family life, Barré-Boulet signed a one-year deal with his boyhood team, the Montreal Canadiens. For someone who’s a fringe NHLer and likely to be going forth and back between the two leagues, having the AHL affiliate right next door is a huge advantage.
Being sent down in Montreal means a bit more commuting, in Tampa, it meant going to the state of New York. There is no doubt Barré-Boulet will be disappointed in being put on waivers, but at least, it doesn’t mean leaving his family. Unless of course someone claims him. It can always happen, ask poor Raphael Lavoie who has had an absolute bonkers week on waivers, going for Edmonton to Vegas to Edmonton and finally landing in Vegas for good (well, for now).
Related: Canadiens sign Alex Barré-Boulet to one-year deal
At the very least Barré-Boulet got to play the home opener in Montreal, in his home province, no doubt in front of plenty of family in friends. Head coach Martin St-Louis who’s been in the 27-year-old’s shoes early in his career must feel for the man, but hockey is a business and Kent Hughes is making what he believes to be the best decisions for his team.
With Barré-Boulet heading either to Laval or elsewhere through a waiver claim, can we expect a recall or someone coming back from injury? Logan Mailloux has been great so far with the Rocket this season, playing a statement making game in his first match, putting up four points, but there are already seven rearguards in Montreal, is there any points calling up another one? Perhaps until Struble is 100% ready? Owen Beck could also be a good candidate, but we’ll just have to wait and see what Hughes’ end game is there.
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