Pierre Bouchard
Encyclopedia
Pierre Émile Bouchard is a retired former professional ice hockey
player with the Montreal Canadiens
and Washington Capitals
.
Practicing a tough but clean style of hockey, Bouchard played an important role, along with Bill Nyrop
, as steady defensive-defensemen to the Canadien’s offensive “superstar” trio of Robinson
, Savard
and Lapointe
who dominated the NHL blueline in the 70s.
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 20 years, and among the changes that were made were to bring Bouchard along with Guy Lapointe up from the minors. So in just his rookie year 1970-71
, Bouchard was part of the Canadien team that upset the powerful, record-breaking Boston Bruins
in the first round and went on to win the Stanley Cup. In all Bouchard was on five Stanley Cup
winning teams with the Canadiens in eight seasons.
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 interfered in the deal. Initially unhappy with the move, Bouchard played only one game in the 1978-79 season and considered retirement. However, he returned next season to the NHL with Washington where he finished his career playing four seasons.
His father is Canadiens' Hall of Fame defenceman of the 1940s and 50s 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 team-mates with both father and son in the NHL. Richard had played with Butch Bouchard in the 1955-56 season.
After retirement Bouchard went into business and broadcasting. He became one of the most popular NHL francophone analysts.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
and Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
.
Practicing a tough but clean style of hockey, Bouchard played an important role, along with Bill Nyrop
Bill Nyrop
William D. Nyrop was a professional ice hockey player who won three Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens in 1976, 1977, and 1978.-Early life:...
, as steady defensive-defensemen to the Canadien’s offensive “superstar” trio of Robinson
Larry Robinson
Larry Clark Robinson is a former ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League. Robinson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995 and is currently the defensive coach for the New Jersey Devils...
, Savard
Serge Savard
Serge Aubrey "The Senator" Savard, OC, CQ is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman, most famously with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He is also a local businessman in Montreal, and is nicknamed the Senator.-Playing career:Savard played minor league hockey with the...
and Lapointe
Guy Lapointe
Guy Gerard "Pointu" Lapointe is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League...
who dominated the NHL blueline in the 70s.
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 20 years, and among the changes that were made were to bring Bouchard along with Guy Lapointe up from the minors. So in just his rookie year 1970-71
1970–71 Montreal Canadiens season
The 1970–71 Montreal Canadiens season was the club's 62nd season. After missing the playoffs in the previous season, the team rebounded to place third in the East Division, qualifying for the playoffs...
, Bouchard was part of the Canadien team that upset the powerful, record-breaking Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
in the first round and went on to win the Stanley Cup. In all Bouchard was on five Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
winning teams with the Canadiens in eight seasons.
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 interfered in the deal. Initially unhappy with the move, Bouchard played only one game in the 1978-79 season and considered retirement. However, he returned next season to the NHL with Washington where he finished his career playing four seasons.
His father is Canadiens' Hall of Fame defenceman of the 1940s and 50s Émile "Butch" Bouchard
Emile Bouchard
Émile Joseph "Butch" Bouchard, CM, CQ is a former Canadian ice hockey player who played defence with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League from 1941 to 1956. He is member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, won four Stanley Cups, was captain of the Canadiens for eight years and was voted...
. From 1970 to 1975 Pierre was on the same team as Henri Richard
Henri Richard
Joseph Henri Richard is a former professional ice hockey player who played centre with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League from 1955 to 1975...
, creating the unusual occurrence of a player having been team-mates with both father and son in the NHL. Richard had played with Butch Bouchard in the 1955-56 season.
After retirement Bouchard went into business and broadcasting. He became one of the most popular NHL francophone analysts.
Career statistics
--- Regular season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1965-66 Palestre Nationale QJHL 40 6 19 25 53
1966-67 Montreal Junior Canadiens OHA 48 4 9 13 105
1967-68 Montreal Junior Canadiens OHA 54 10 18 28 134
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
- *Won the Stanley Cup.