Joël Bouchard
Joël Bouchard is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League. He is currently the head coach of the Laval Rocket in the American Hockey League, the minor league affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens.Playing career
As a youth, Bouchard played in the 1988 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Montreal.
Bouchard was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, sixth round, 129th overall. He later played for the Flames, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars, Phoenix Coyotes, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, and the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League.
Bouchard later worked as an analyst for Réseau des sports, and produced and hosted his own show called "L'Académie de hockey McDonald".Career statistics
International
Transactions
- June 26, 1998 - Claimed off waivers by the Nashville Predators from the Calgary Flames.
- March 14, 2000 - Claimed off waivers by the Dallas Stars from the Nashville Predators.
- August 31, 2000 - Signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Coyotes.
- October 25, 2001 - Signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Devils
- August 5, 2002 - Signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers.
- February 10, 2003 - Traded by the New York Rangers, along with Richard Lintner, Rico Fata, Mikael Samuelsson and future considerations to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Alexei Kovalev, Mike Wilson, Janne Laukkanen and Dan LaCouture.
- July 14, 2003 - Signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Sabres.
- October 3, 2003 - Claimed off waivers by the New York Rangers from the Buffalo Sabres.
- August 18, 2005 - Signed as a free agent with the New York Islanders.
- October 23, 2007 - Signed a minor league contract with Hamilton Bulldogs, AHL affiliate of Montreal Canadiens.
