‘It’s a big year’
Former Senators first-rounder Boucher hoping struggles finally behind him
Injury after injury, the hockey journey for Tyler Boucher has, so far, been unreal. Almost unbelievable, at times.
It has been frustration after frustration for the big Ottawa Senators winger.
Just when he thought he was going to take a step toward his NHL career, there would be a setback. Then, another setback. And, another.
Boucher is hoping his struggles — mentally and physically — are behind him.
Finally.
Selected 10th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Boucher is in Senators rookie camp looking to make an impact, something that could have happened earlier in this hockey career ... except for the injuries and health issues.
For Boucher, who is now 21, it was disheartening. It seemed unfair as the injuries stacked up.
In his teens, he was hit with COVID-19 a few times. And, the injuries.
He joined the Ottawa 67's in January of 2022, putting up seven goals and seven assists. In the 202223 season, he had 10 goals and seven assists in 21 games for the 67's.
At the 2023 world junior hockey championships, he had three goals and an assist for Team USA before suffering a torn labrum in his right shoulder. After rehabbing the injury, he was set to join the Senators a year ago. But, during fitness training ahead of the prospects camp, he suffered a groin injury. Day-to-day turned into a few months and he didn't play a game for the Senators' American Hockey League farm team in Belleville until December. He had two goals and three assists before another injury, to his left shoulder (he had surgery in March).
Now, there is light, there is hope. Boucher says he feels great.
“I'm excited to be back on the ice, I'm ready to go,” he said. “It's been pretty hard, I'm not going to lie. It taken a toll on me. Last year was brutal. I got hurt, it lingered for about three months, then I had to catch a moving train halfway through the season. It was hard to get going.
“A big part of pro hockey is being able to be mentally strong, deal with the hard stuff. I didn't plan on getting hurt. I gained confidence from overcoming that kind of stuff. Through (the injuries), I've learned a lot. I'm back, I'm healthy, it's in the past and I'm not looking back.”
Boucher says he changed his training routine over the summer. Back in the Philadelphia area, he focused more on Pilates and saw big changes in his flexibility.
“It's a big year,” he said. “For me, just being healthy again is something I'm excited about. I know what I can do when I'm healthy.”
Asked if he could make an impact, without hesitation, he said: “100 percent.
“It's been a bit. It's been a stopand-start thing for a couple of years. This weekend is nice, I get a little warmup before main camp. It's really important to me to get my feet wet, shake off the rust and hit the ground running.”
The Senators are excited to finally get a good look at what the physical
Boucher can bring to the table.
“Because of injury, he's been pounded down,” said Senators head scout Don Boyd. “I'm sure it's been hard mentally on him. He's resilient. He continues to battle back.
“It looks like he's had a very good summer. He just has to get the reps. There's still no doubt in my mind what he's going to be capable of doing along the way. His growth has been stunted a bit and plateaued because of lack of playing time, but the reps will get him going. The way he's skating and the way he's handling the puck, it looks like he'll catch up really quick.
“He's confident, he can be an impact player in this rookie camp; he has a chance to go out and show and what he's capable of doing at the highest level he's played at.”
Boucher was with the Senators as they played their first game in the six-team Prospects Challenge in Buffalo Friday. The Senators also have games against
Pittsburgh Saturday and
Columbus Monday.
So, what are the expectations? What can the Senators expect from the first-round pick?
“He's a powerful forward that can really shoot the puck and get in on the forecheck,” said Belleville Senators head coach David Bell.
“He can play the identity Ottawa wants to play. He's feeling good, looking good, I'm excited to see what he does.
“We'd all like him to have more games played. You can't teach experience. Where he is in head space, he's in a great spot, he's in great shape. We're not going to push him, but he's not going to get days off to rest. He's full go, ready to go, now it's up to him.”
Last year was brutal. I got hurt, it lingered for about three months, then I had to catch a moving train halfway through the season. It was hard to get going. Tyler Boucher
ICE CHIPS
The Senators announced Friday goaltender Owen Willmore has been added to their roster for the Prospects Challenge. Goalie Leevi Merilainen will not participate in the tournament due to a lower-body injury.