Benoit-Olivier Groulx

Last updated

Benoit-Olivier Groulx
Born (2000-02-06) February 6, 2000 (age 25)
Rouen, Normandy, France
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Toronto Maple Leafs
Anaheim Ducks
NHL draft 54th overall, 2018
Anaheim Ducks
Playing career 2021present

Benoit-Olivier "Bo" Groulx (born February 6, 2000) is a French-born Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Groulx was drafted 54th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2018 NHL entry draft.

Contents

Playing career

Junior hockey

Groulx was selected first overall by the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in the 2016 QMJHL entry draft. [1] In his first season with the club, he recorded 14 goals and 17 assists in 62 games. He also skated in six playoff games, scoring one goal and one assist; the Mooseheads were eliminated in the first round by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. [2] He returned to the Mooseheads for the 2018–19 season, where he recorded 30 goals and 80 points in 65 games. The Mooseheads won the 2019 QMJHL President's Cup championship series and went to the 2019 Memorial Cup. Groulx was named a tournament all-star after scoring one goal and four points in four games. [3] In his final season in the QMJHL, Groulx was named captain of the Mooseheads. [4] Groulx was traded from Halifax to the Moncton Wildcats for three draft picks on December 22, 2019. [5] He finished the season with 78 points in 55 games with a plus-minus of plus 20. Groulx won the Guy Carbonneau Trophy as the 2019–20 QJMHL best defensive forward. [6] He was also named the captain of the QMJHL team in the QMJHL–Russia series that took place in November 2019. [7]

Professional

Groulx was selected by the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the second round (54th overall) of the 2018 NHL entry draft. [8] On October 10, 2019, the Ducks signed Groulx to a three-year, entry-level contract. [3] Groulx began his professional career with Anaheim's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, in the 2020–21 season, scoring ten goals and 29 points in 42 games and led all AHL rookies in shorthanded points. [9] Groulx made his NHL debut the following season in a 4–1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on opening night, October 13, 2021. [10] He registered his first assist and point against the Vegas Golden Knights on October 29 [9] and his first goal against the St. Louis Blues on November 7. [11] He was sent down to the Gulls on November 19 after playing in 15 games, scoring one goal and three points. [9] He was recalled on November 28 [12] and played in one game before being sent back down to San Diego. [13]

Groulx spent the majority of the 2022–23 season with San Diego. He was recalled by Anaheim on April 11 and played in two games. [14] [15] He signed a one-year, two-way contract extension with Anaheim on July 14, 2023. [15] He appeared in 45 games with Anaheim, registering two assists. [16]

Following his first four professional seasons within the Ducks organization, Groulx was not tendered a qualifying offer and left as an unrestricted free agent. He was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the New York Rangers on July 2, 2024. [16] He was assigned to New York's AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, for the 2024–25 season. [17] He was promoted to the Rangers on January 10, 2025. [18]

As a free agent, Groulx left the Rangers after a lone season and was signed to a two-year, $1.63 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1, 2025. [19]

International play

Medal record
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Ice hockey
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament

Although born in France, Groulx has represented Canada in international competition and has played in the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics where he played six games for Canada scoring four goals with six points. He also competed in the 2016 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where he played for Canada Red. The team finished first in Group B and Groulx played five games for the team, scoring one goal and two points. [20] Although not a tournament regulated by the International Ice Hockey Federation but still considered a major event for under-18 players; Groulx next played in the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament where he played five games for Canada scoring one goal and three points with six penalty minutes, winning gold with the team. [21]

Personal life

Groulx was born in Rouen, France but grew up in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. Groulx is the son of Benoit Groulx, a head coach and former professional ice hockey player. [22]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2016–17 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 621714313461124
2017–18 Halifax MooseheadsQMJHL68282755100926814
2018–19 Halifax MooseheadsQMJHL653149805610481212
2019–20 Halifax MooseheadsQMJHL2615264128
2019–20 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL2914233730
2020–21 San Diego Gulls AHL 421019292431014
2021–22 Anaheim Ducks NHL 181232
2021–22 San Diego GullsAHL4011112239
2022–23 San Diego GullsAHL6318213941
2022–23 Anaheim DucksNHL20000
2023–24 Anaheim DucksNHL4502222
2024–25 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL4715223742
NHL totals6514524

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2016 Canada YOG Silver medal icon.svg64267
2016 Canada U17 9th51120
2017 Canada IH18 Gold medal icon.svg52136
Junior totals16741113

References

  1. "QMJHL draft opens with two picks by Mooseheads". Sportsnet. The Canadian Press. June 4, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  2. "Mooseheads season ends in Rouyn-Noranda". Halifax Mooseheads. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Ducks Sign Groulx to Three-Year Entry-Level Contract". Anaheim Ducks. October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  4. Vohra, Ameeta (November 24, 2019). "Ducks prospect Benoit-Olivier Groulx on his between-the-legs goal, becoming Mooseheads captain and signing that first NHL contract". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  5. Benjamin, Graeme (December 22, 2019). "Halifax Mooseheads trade away captain for draft picks". Global News. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  6. "Le trophée Guy-Carbonneau remis à Benoit-Olivier Groulx". RDS (in French). May 1, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  7. "BO Groulx named QMJHL Captain for Canada-Russia Series". Halifax Mooseheads. November 4, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  8. Shohara, Kyle (June 23, 2018). "Ducks Select Seven Players in 2018 NHL Draft". Anaheim Ducks. Retrieved June 23, 2018 via NHL.com.
  9. 1 2 3 "Ducks Assign Bo Groulx to San Diego Gulls". San Diego Gulls. November 19, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  10. Teaford, Elliott (October 13, 2021). "Mason McTavish, Ducks topple Winnipeg, welcome fans back in season opener". The Orange County Register. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  11. Pavlov, Willy (November 8, 2021). "Ex-Mooseheads captain Bo Groulx scores first NHL goal". Saltwire. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  12. "Ducks' Benoit-Olivier Groulx: Recalled from AHL". CBS Sports. November 28, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  13. "Ducks Reassign Benoit-Olivier Groulx to Gulls". San Diego Gulls. November 29, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  14. "Anaheim Ducks Recall Benoit Olivier-Groulx from San Diego". San Diego Gulls. April 11, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Ducks sign F Benoit-Olivier Groulx to one-year contract extension". Sportsnet. July 14, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  16. 1 2 "Rangers agree to terms with Casey Fitzgerald and Bo Groulx". New York Rangers. July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024 via NHL.com.
  17. "Rangers Assign Bo Groulx to Wolf Pack". Hartford Wolf Pack. October 3, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  18. Mastey, Remy (January 11, 2025). "Brett Berard's Fate With Rangers This Season In Question". The Hockey News. Retrieved January 11, 2025 via Yahoo! Sports.
  19. "Maple Leafs sign Pezzetta, Groulx, Boyd and Mermis". Toronto Maple Leafs. July 1, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  20. "Mooseheads Named to World U-17 Challenge". Halifax Mooseheads. October 12, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  21. Colorado, José (August 2, 2017). "Mooseheads' trio make Team Canada's U18 roster for Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup; Zadina officially joins Herd". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  22. "Benoit Groulx could see son go first in QMJHL draft". Sportsnet. The Canadian Press. June 2, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2018.