It has been a disappointing year for Tyler Boucher, a top prospect of the Ottawa Senators.
In January 2022, he decided to leave Boston University after just 17 underwhelming games and sign an entry-level contract with the Senators. He scored just three points in college hockey while racking up 34 penalty minutes, so he decided to go a different path for his development.
He was dealing with an injury at the time, but after eventually joining the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL, he scored just eight goals and 16 points in 28 games, including a four-game sweep at the hands of the North Bay Battalion.
This season was supposed to be his big breakout, with an offseason of preparation with the 67’s and a likely place on the U.S. World Junior team. He landed that spot, but would be replaced before the bronze medal game due to injury.
Following the tournament, the shoulder injury would keep him out until late February. After just four games back, Boucher has aggravated the injury and is now scheduled for surgery to repair a torn album. His season is over, meaning it will end with just ten goals and 18 points in 21 games for the 67’s.
Selected tenth overall in 2021, it’s been a brutal start to his time in the Senators organization. Boucher still has plenty of upside and only turned 20 in January, but now faces a three to four-month recovery. Hopefully, this lost development time won’t keep him from reaching his ceiling at the professional level.
@Gavin – “Tuesday”, March 9th, 2023 – A day that will live in infamy! Just listen to the “album”. Another broken record for Tyler Boucher. :) (I’ll bet you just said, “Game time can’t get here fast enough!”)
@Mac – I tore an album once…..think it was that one by the DeFranco family back in the 70’s. :D
@Gbear – That’s downright scary – The 70’s and an Italian (or maybe Sicilian?) family. Even scarier than Gord Wilson describing hairy body parts, in-game! :)