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Pierre Bouchard

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Pierre Bouchard
Born (1948-02-20) February 20, 1948 (age 76)
Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Washington Capitals
NHL draft 5th overall, 1965
Montreal Canadiens
Playing career 1970–1982

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

[edit]
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1965–66 Montreal Nationale MMJHL 40 6 19 25 53 — — — — —
1966–67 Montreal Junior Canadiens OHA-Jr. 48 4 9 13 105 6 0 0 0 2
1967–68 Montreal Junior Canadiens OHA-Jr. 54 10 18 28 134 11 2 2 4 20
1968–69 Cleveland Barons AHL 69 6 16 22 32 5 1 1 2 14
1969–70 Montreal Voyageurs AHL 65 5 13 18 124 8 1 3 4 24
1970–71 Montreal Canadiens NHL 51 0 3 3 50 13 0 1 1 10
1971–72 Montreal Canadiens NHL 60 3 5 8 39 1 0 0 0 0
1972–73 Montreal Canadiens NHL 41 0 7 7 69 17 1 3 4 13
1973–74 Montreal Canadiens NHL 60 1 14 15 25 6 0 2 2 4
1974–75 Montreal Canadiens NHL 79 3 9 12 65 10 0 2 2 10
1975–76 Montreal Canadiens NHL 66 1 11 12 50 13 2 0 2 8
1976–77 Montreal Canadiens NHL 73 4 11 15 52 6 0 1 1 6
1977–78 Montreal Canadiens NHL 59 4 6 10 29 10 0 1 1 5
1978–79 Washington Capitals NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1979–80 Washington Capitals NHL 54 5 9 14 16 — — — — —
1980–81 Washington Capitals NHL 50 3 7 10 28 — — — — —
1981–82 Hershey Bears AHL 62 2 10 12 26 5 0 0 0 6
1981–82 Washington Capitals NHL 1 0 0 0 10 — — — — —
NHL totals 595 24 82 106 433 76 3 10 13 56

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Guy Lapointe describes why he and Bouchard were brought up to Canadiens". Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
  2. ^ "Pierre Bouchard - Bio, pictures, stats and more | Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens".
  3. ^ Parsons, Mark (2013-11-08). "Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia: 1978 NHL Waiver Draft". Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  4. ^ Fachet, Robert (March 17, 1979). "Bouchard Unretires, Joines Caps". The Washington Post. p. 1. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "Career and move to Washington". Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  6. ^ "Bouchard at Legends of Hockey". Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  7. ^ "Team-mates of Henri Richard". Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  8. ^ "Bouchard story". Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  9. ^ Fischler, Shirley (2003). Who's Who in Hockey. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 37. ISBN 0-7407-1904-1.
[edit]
Preceded by Montreal Canadiens first round draft pick
1965 		Succeeded by
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