Pierre Bouchard Explained

Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:205
Played For:Montreal Canadiens
Washington Capitals
Birth Date:20 February 1948
Birth Place:Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
Draft:5th overall
Draft Year:1965
Draft Team:Montreal Canadiens
Career Start:1970
Career End:1982

Pierre Émile Bouchard (born February 20, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals. He was selected by the Canadiens in the first round (fifth overall) of the 1965 NHL Amateur Draft.

Bouchard played an important role, along with Bill Nyrop, as steady defensive-defencemen to the Canadien’s offensive “superstar” trio of Robinson, Savard and Lapointe who dominated the NHL blueline in the 1970s.

Bouchard's NHL career began after the Montreal Canadiens had missed the playoffs in the 1969–70 season, unacceptable for a franchise which had not missed post-season play in 22 years, and among the changes that were made were to bring Bouchard along with Guy Lapointe up from the minors.[1] In his rookie year in 1970–71, Bouchard was part of the Canadiens' team that upset the powerful, record-breaking Boston Bruins in the first round and went on to win the Stanley Cup. Bouchard played for five Stanley Cup-winning Canadiens teams in eight seasons.[2]

Prior to the 1978–79 season, a failed manipulation of the waiver system by the Canadiens led Bouchard's rights to unintentionally move from Montreal to Washington. Montreal had intended to reclaim him, but NHL President John Ziegler rejected the deal citing league bylaws which the Board of Governors refused to change.[3] Bouchard believed the Canadiens never intended to get him back.[4] Initially unhappy with the move, Bouchard played only one game in the 1978–79 season and considered retirement.[5] However, he returned next season to the NHL with Washington where he finished his career playing four seasons.[6]

His father was Canadiens' Hall of Fame defenceman of the 1940s and 1950s Émile "Butch" Bouchard. From 1970 to 1975 Pierre was on the same team as Henri Richard, creating the unusual occurrence of a player having been teammates with both father and son in the NHL. Richard had played with Butch Bouchard in the 1955–56 season.[7]

After retirement Bouchard went into business and broadcasting. He became one of the most popular NHL francophone analysts.[8] [9]

Career statistics

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1965–66Montreal Nationale MMJHL406192553
1966–67Montreal Junior CanadiensOHA-Jr.48491310560002
1967–68Montreal Junior CanadiensOHA-Jr.541018281341122420
1968–69Cleveland BaronsAHL696162232511214
1969–70Montreal VoyageursAHL6551318124813424
1970–71Montreal CanadiensNHL51033501301110
1971–72Montreal CanadiensNHL603583910000
1972–73Montreal CanadiensNHL41077691713413
1973–74Montreal CanadiensNHL60114152560224
1974–75Montreal CanadiensNHL793912651002210
1975–76Montreal CanadiensNHL661111250132028
1976–77Montreal CanadiensNHL73411155260116
1977–78Montreal CanadiensNHL59461029100115
1978–79Washington CapitalsNHL10000
1979–80Washington CapitalsNHL54591416
1980–81Washington CapitalsNHL50371028
1981–82Hershey BearsAHL62210122650006
1981–82Washington CapitalsNHL100010
NHL totals5952482106433763101356

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Guy Lapointe describes why he and Bouchard were brought up to Canadiens. 2009-08-10. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110604135221/http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/html/spot_oneononep199301.htm. 2011-06-04.
  2. Web site: Pierre Bouchard - Bio, pictures, stats and more | Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens.
  3. Web site: Parsons . Mark . 2013-11-08 . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia: 1978 NHL Waiver Draft . 2023-09-25 . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia.
  4. News: Fachet . Robert . March 17, 1979 . Bouchard Unretires, Joines Caps . 1 . . September 24, 2023.
  5. Web site: Career and move to Washington. 2009-08-07.
  6. Web site: Bouchard at Legends of Hockey. 2009-08-06.
  7. Web site: Team-mates of Henri Richard. 2009-08-09.
  8. Web site: Bouchard story. 2009-08-07.
  9. Book: Fischler, Shirley. Who's Who in Hockey. 37. Andrews McMeel Publishing. 2003. 0-7407-1904-1.