Philippe Boucher

This article is about the French-Canadian ice-hockey player. For the similarly named Irish news reporter and radio personality, see Philip Boucher-Hayes.

Philippe Boucher
Born	(1973-03-24) March 24, 1973 (age 50) Saint-Apollinaire, Quebec, Canada
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Right
Played for	Buffalo Sabres Los Angeles Kings Dallas Stars Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL Draft	13th overall, 1991 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	1992–2009

Philippe Boucher (born March 24, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League. He was the general manager of the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL from 2019 to 2023. He also served as GM with the Quebec Remparts and the Rimouski Oceanic.

Playing career

Amateur

As a youth, Boucher played in the 1985, 1986 and 1987 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with minor ice hockey team from Lotbinière, Quebec and Rive-Sud. ^[1]

Boucher began his junior ice hockey career with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Granby Bisons in 1990. Boucher enjoyed immense success in his first season, producing at a nearly point-per-game average and winning the QMJHL Rookie of the Year award. He was also named a second-team QMJHL All-Star. His second season came with just as much success, as Boucher notched 77 points in 65 games with Granby and the Laval Titan, once again being named a second-team All-Star. Boucher spent one more seasons in the QMJHL, splitting time between Granby, Laval, and later two professional teams.^{[ citation needed ]}

Professional

The Buffalo Sabres drafted Boucher in the first round, 13th overall, in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. A year later, Boucher would begin his professional career, starting the 1992–1993 season as a defenceman for the Sabres. Despite some solid outings, and even a game where Boucher posted a +5 plus/minus rating, Boucher ended the season with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. After three somewhat disappointing seasons with the Sabres, Boucher was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings during the 1994–1995 season.^{[ citation needed ]}

Boucher with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008

In Los Angeles, Boucher produced better numbers, but still proved unreliable to finish a complete 80+ game season in the NHL. Criticisms aimed at Boucher also claimed he was not as defensively reliable or physical as other professional defencemen his size. Even so, Boucher was a consistent blueliner for the Kings for eight seasons, and played a career-high 80 games in the 2001–2002 season.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2002, Boucher signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars, reuniting with the former special teams coach of the Kings, Dave Tippett.^{[ citation needed ]}

On November 28, 2003, late in the third period of a game against the New Jersey Devils, an errant puck hit Boucher on the left side of his face, breaking his left orbital bone. Boucher had surgery on December 1 to repair the bone, putting him on the injured list for weeks. Since the injury, Boucher has worn a visor.^{[ citation needed ]}

In the 2006–07 NHL season, Boucher had a break-out year, tying the Stars' franchise record for most goals by a defenceman in a regular season, with 19 goals. Boucher was selected by the NHL to play in the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game in Dallas on January 24, 2007. Since Scott Niedermayer, one of two defencemen on the starting line-up chosen by the fans, was injured at the time, Western All-Star coach Barry Trotz named Boucher on the starting line-up as Niedermayer's replacement.^{[ citation needed ]}

During the 2008–09 season on November 16, 2008, Boucher was traded by the Stars to the Pittsburgh Penguins in return for Darryl Sydor. ^[2] He helped the Penguins capture the Stanley Cup, his first, before announcing his retirement from the NHL on September 3, 2009. ^[3]

Personal life

Boucher resides with his wife Lucie and their two children, Matthew and Vanessa in Quebec City during the summer. ^[4] Boucher founded the Philippe-Boucher Foundation, which helps underprivileged children in the Lotbinière region. ^[5]

Awards

• RDS Cup (QMJHL Rookie of the Year) – 1990–91
• OMJHL Second-Team All-Star – 1990–91 and 1991–92
• Played in NHL All-Star Game – 2007
• Stanley Cup champion – 2009

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1988–89	Ste-Foy Gouverneurs	QMAAA		5	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Ste-Foy Gouverneurs	QMAAA		42	26	60	86	76		12	6	19	25	16
1990–91	Granby Bisons	QMJHL		69	21	46	67	92		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Granby Bisons	QMJHL		49	22	37	59	47		—	—	—	—	—
1991–92	Laval Titan	QMJHL		16	7	11	18	36		10	5	6	11	8
1992–93	Laval Titan	QMJHL		16	12	15	27	37		13	6	15	21	12
1992–93	Rochester Americans	AHL		5	4	3	7	8		3	0	1	1	2
1992–93	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		18	0	4	4	14		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Rochester Americans	AHL		31	10	22	32	51		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		38	6	8	14	29		7	1	1	2	2
1994–95	Rochester Americans	AHL		43	14	27	41	26		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		9	1	4	5	0		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		6	1	0	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Phoenix Roadrunners	IHL		10	4	3	7	4		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		53	7	16	23	31		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		60	7	18	25	25		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Long Beach Ice Dogs	IHL		2	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		45	6	10	16	49		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		45	2	6	8	32		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Long Beach Ice Dogs	IHL		14	4	11	15	8		6	0	9	9	8
1999–2000	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Manitoba Moose	IHL		45	10	22	32	39		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		22	2	4	6	20		13	0	1	1	2
2001–02	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		80	7	23	30	94		5	0	1	1	2
2002–03	Dallas Stars	NHL		80	7	20	27	94		11	1	2	3	11
2003–04	Dallas Stars	NHL		70	8	16	24	64		5	1	0	1	6
2005–06	Dallas Stars	NHL		66	16	27	43	77		5	0	1	1	2
2006–07	Dallas Stars	NHL		76	19	32	51	104		7	0	1	1	6
2007–08	Dallas Stars	NHL		38	2	12	14	26		3	0	0	0	4
2008–09	Dallas Stars	NHL		16	0	3	3	15		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		25	3	3	6	24		9	1	3	4	4
NHL totals				748	94	206	300	702		65	4	10	14	39

References

1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
2. "Penguins deal for defenseman Boucher, send former Star Sydor back to Dallas". ESPN.com . Associated Press. 16 November 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
3. "Penguins defenceman Boucher announces retirement". TSN. 2009-09-03. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
4. Lavoie, Kathleen (March 25, 2016). "Matthew Boucher: petit ailier aux grands espoirs". lesoleil.com (in French). Retrieved June 6, 2018.
5. Labrecque, Mélanie (February 21, 2018). "Près de 20 000$ pour la Fondation Philippe Boucher". lepeuplelotbiniere.ca (in French). Retrieved June 6, 2018.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Brad May	Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick 1991	Succeeded by David Cooper