MONTRÉAL – Alex Barré-Boulet needed a fresh start. He chose the Montreal Canadiens for his next adventure.
Barré-Boulet signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the CH.
“It’s a pretty incredible feeling,” the former Lightning player told NHL.com. “As a Quebecer, I grew up wanting to be part of the Canadiens. I just signed my name to a contract with this team.”
The 27-year-old, 5-foot-10, 178-pound winger’s goal will be to finally establish himself full-time at the NHL level.
In his last four seasons, Barré-Boulet has been back and forth between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL. He also had a short two-game tryout with the Seattle Kraken during the 2021-22 season. The Kraken claimed him off waivers on Oct. 11, only to repack his bags eleven days later and return to Tampa, again via waivers.
At the next camp in September in Montreal, he believes in his chances of winning a position with the Tricolore.
“I think it’s possible, even though I don’t want to take anything for granted,” he replied. “I don’t think it’s impossible. If I arrive at camp in perfect shape and play the way I want to, I don’t see why I couldn’t get a spot. But if I have to go to Laval, I’ll arrive with the Rocket with a good attitude. I’ll do everything I can to get back up there as quickly as possible.”
“When I spoke with the leaders of the Canadiens, I had the feeling that he imagined me fighting for a position in camp,” he continued. I will add depth to the offense. I also have a contract that doesn’t cost much to give a player a chance. I can’t wait for camp. »
In search of stability
Last year, Barré-Boulet had nine points (six goals, three assists) in 36 games with the Lightning. He also obtained 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 23 games with the Crunch. In the playoffs at Syracuse, he added seven points (four goals, three assists) in eight games.
Never drafted at the NHL level, he had his best season in 2022-23, finishing second in the American League in scoring with 84 points (24 goals, 60 assists) in 69 games with the Crunch.
On a family level, Barré-Boulet did not want to relive a situation like that of last winter.
“I had a few offers on the table, but the Canadiens’ offer was the one that appealed to me the most,” he said. “I won’t identify the other teams. I wanted a team that had its NHL and AHL teams practically in the same city.”
“For several years, I have been going back and forth between Tampa and Syracuse,” he continued. “Last year, I spent only one month out of eight with my two children and my partner. It was difficult mentally. I was in a hotel until Christmas in Tampa and then ended up in an apartment for a month in Tampa, but then I went back to a hotel for a few months in Syracuse. You can’t live with two young children in a hotel. To put it in plain English, it was a bit of a mess. I find peace of mind with the Canadiens since there is practically no difference between Montreal and Laval.”
Barré-Boulet is the father of a two-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl.
