Alex Barré-Boulet Explained

Alex Barré-Boulet
Birth Date:21 May 1997
Birth Place:Montmagny, Quebec, Canada
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lb:170
Position:Centre
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Montreal Canadiens
Former Teams:Tampa Bay Lightning
Seattle Kraken
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2018

Alex Barré-Boulet (born May 21, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Originally undrafted by teams in the NHL, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning in March 2018. Barré-Boulet has also previously played for the Seattle Kraken.

Playing career

Junior

Barré-Boulet played in his native Quebec, at the midget level with the Rive-Sud Express Midget Espoir and Lévis Commandeurs. He was a late round draft pick to the Drummondville Voltigeurs (102nd overall) in the 2013 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Entry Draft. Developing early as an offensive under-sized forward, Barré-Boulet lead the Voltigeurs with 54 assists, placing second in team scoring with 89 points in just his second season in the QMJHL in 2015–16.

During his third season in the QMJHL in 2016–17, Barré-Boulet was traded by the Voltigeurs to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in exchange for two players and three draft selections on January 6, 2017.[1] In scoring at a greater than point-per-game pace with the Armada, Barré-Boulet recorded 14 goals to lead the league in that year's playoffs.[2]

Originally undrafted into the National Hockey League (NHL), Barré-Boulet secured a three-year, entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 1, 2018.[3] He finished the 2017–18 QMJHL season recording a league-leading 53 goals and 63 assists for 116 points in 65 games to claim the Jean Béliveau Trophy as well as the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy as league MVP.[4] Barré-Boulet would help the Armada advance to the President's Cup Finals that spring, ultimately falling short against the Acadie–Bathurst Titan in six games.[5]

Professional

Having ended his junior career, Barré-Boulet attended both the Tampa Bay Lightning's rookie and main training camps, before he was reassigned to American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Syracuse Crunch to begin the 2018–19 season. Barré-Boulet scored the game-winning goal in his professional debut on October 6 and went on to be the top-scoring rookie in the AHL during the regular season with 68 points in 74 games for the Crunch, placing sixth in the league's overall scoring race. He earned a share of the Willie Marshall Award as the league co-leader with 34 goals, alongside teammate Carter Verhaeghe. He likewise won the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as most outstanding rookie.[6]

During the 2019–20 AHL season, Barré-Boulet exploded offensively, putting up 40 points in 43 games before the annual All-Star break.[7] He recorded his professional hat-trick on February 28, 2020, against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[8]

Barré-Boulet was one of the eight players called up to the Lightning for their training camp prior to the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.[9]

On February 22, 2021, Barré-Boulet skated in his first career NHL game in a 4–2 Lightning win over the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena.[10] [11] On April 25, he recorded his first career NHL goal and point in a 4–3 Lightning overtime win over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets at Amalie Arena.[12] Barré-Boulet subsequently signed a three-year contract exentension to remain with the Lightning in July 2021.[13]

On October 10, 2021, he was placed on waivers by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and was claimed by the Seattle Kraken the next day.[14] He played two games for Seattle recording an assist before, on October 21, he was placed on waivers by the Kraken, and was reclaimed by the Lightning the next day.[15]

As an unrestricted free agent following the 2023–24 NHL season, Barré-Boulet signed a one-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 1, 2024.[16]

Personal life

Barré-Boulet's wife, Anne-Marie, gave birth to their first son, Zack, on February 16, 2022.[17]

Career statistics

Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13Lévis CommandeursQMAAA11123442132
2013–14Lévis CommandeursQMAAA32211940662798
2014–15Drummondville VoltigeursQMJHL6823285124
2015–16Drummondville VoltigeursQMJHL653554894241128
2016–17Drummondville VoltigeursQMJHL3717314826
2016–17Blainville-Boisbriand ArmadaQMJHL28122133162014173110
2017–18Blainville-Boisbriand ArmadaQMJHL655363116671913142714
2018–19Syracuse CrunchAHL743434681841230
2019–20Syracuse CrunchAHL6027295622
2020–21Syracuse CrunchAHL1084120
2020–21Tampa Bay LightningNHL153030
2021–22Seattle KrakenNHL20110
2021–22Tampa Bay LightningNHL143254
2021–22Syracuse CrunchAHL581647633250332
2022–23Tampa Bay LightningNHL10000
2022–23Syracuse CrunchAHL692460845851892
2023–24Tampa Bay LightningNHL3663910
2023–24Syracuse CrunchAHL2341519684370
NHL totals681261814

Awards & honours

AwardYearRef
QMJHL
First All-Star Team2018[18]
Jean Béliveau Trophy2018[19]
Michel Brière Memorial Trophy2018[20]
CHL
CHL Player of the Year2018[21]
AHL
All-Rookie Team2019[22]
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award2019[23]
Willie Marshall Award2019[24]
All-Star Game2020, 2023[25] [26]
Second All-Star Team2019–20 AHL season2020[27]
First All-Star Team2022–23 AHL season2023[28]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Armada unveil Dubois and Boulet . CHL.ca . 2017-01-06 . 2017-01-06.
  2. Web site: QMJHL Playoff Scoring Leaders 2017 . QuantHockey.com . 2024-07-08.
  3. Web site: Lightning sign free agent forward Alex Barre-Boulet to entry-level contract . Tampa Bay Lightning. NHL.com . 2018-03-01 . 2018-03-01.
  4. Web site: The 2018 Golden Puck Awards: a night to remember!. Blouin. Maxime . CHL.ca. 2018-04-05. 2024-07-08.
  5. Web site: QMJHL's Acadie-Bathurst Titan win President's Cup, head to Memorial Cup. CBC News. 2018-05-14 . 2024-07-08.
  6. Web site: Crunch's Alex Barre-Boulet wins AHL's Outstanding Rookie Award . LocalSYR.com . April 18, 2019 . April 18, 2019.
  7. Web site: ALEX BARRE-BOULET NAMED 2020 AHL ALL-STAR . TheAHL.com . January 3, 2020 . January 27, 2020.
  8. Web site: Barre-Boulet's hat trick lifts Syracuse Crunch past Wilkes-Barre/Scranton . TheAHL.com . February 28, 2020 . February 28, 2020.
  9. Web site: Lightning announce 2020 training camp roster, schedule . NHL.com. Tampa Bay Lightning. July 13, 2020 . July 13, 2020.
  10. TBLightning . 1364006095950340096 . 22 February 2021 . Couldn't be happier for ya, BB!

    Congrats! .
  11. Web site: Palat, Stamkos, Hedman help Lightning beat Hurricanes . Sportsnet.ca . February 22, 2021 . February 22, 2021.
  12. Web site: Barre-Boulet scores first NHL goal on power play . . April 25, 2021 . April 26, 2021.
  13. Web site: Lightning sign Alex Barre-Boulet to three-year deal. Faiello. Mari. Tampa Bay Times. July 30, 2021. July 1, 2024.
  14. SeattleKrakenPR. 1447670868243410946. October 11, 2021. The Seattle Kraken have claimed forward Alex Barré-Boulet off waivers from Tampa Bay..
  15. Web site: Lightning claim forward Alex Barre-Boulet off waivers from Kraken. Sportsnet.ca. October 22, 2021. July 1, 2024.
  16. Web site: One-year contract for Alex Barré-Boulet . NHL.com. Montreal Canadiens. July 1, 2024 . July 1, 2024.
  17. News: ‘I can’t believe this is my baby’: Alex Barre-Boulet becomes a father as he works his way back to the Lightning . Smith . Joe . . July 2, 2024 . February 19, 2022.
  18. Web site: Awards - QMJHL First All-Star Team. Eliteprospects.com . July 7, 2024.
  19. Web site: Awards - QMJHL Most Points (Jean Beliveau Trophy). Eliteprospects.com . July 7, 2024.
  20. Web site: Armada star Alex Barre-Boulet named QMJHL MVP; Zadina top prospect . Sportsnet.ca . April 4, 2018 . July 1, 2024.
  21. Web site: CHL Awards: David Branch Player of the Year Award. 2024. CHL.ca. July 1, 2024.
  22. Web site: 2018-19 American Hockey League All-Rookie Team Named . OurSportsCentral.com . April 10, 2019.
  23. Web site: Barre-Boulet voted AHL's Outstanding Rookie . TheAHL.com . April 18, 2019 . April 18, 2019.
  24. Web site: Crunch teammates claim AHL top scoring awards . TheAHL.com . April 14, 2019 . April 14, 2019.
  25. Web site: ALEX BARRE-BOULET NAMED 2020 AHL ALL-STAR . TheAHL.com . January 18, 2020 . January 3, 2020.
  26. Web site: ALEX BARRÉ-BOULET, DARREN RADDYSH, GABRIEL DUMONT NAMED 2023 AHL ALL-STARS . TheAHL.com . July 7, 2024. January 11, 2023.
  27. Web site: 2019-20 AHL First, Second All-Star Teams unveiled . TheAHL.com . May 20, 2020 . May 20, 2020.
  28. Web site: ALEX BARRE-BOULET, DARREN RADDYSH NAMED TO 2022-23 AHL FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM . TheAHL.com . July 7, 2024 . April 13, 2023.