| Pierre Bouchard | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 20, 1948 Longueuil, QC, CAN |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) |
| Position | Defence |
| Shot | Left |
| Played for | Montreal Canadiens Washington Capitals Cleveland Barons (AHL) Montreal Voyageurs (AHL) Hershey Bears (AHL) |
| Playing career | 1970–1982 |
Pierre Émile Bouchard (born February 20, 1948 in Longueuil, Quebec) 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.[1] 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.[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 interfered in the deal. Initially unhappy with the move, Bouchard played only one game in the 1978-79 season and considered retirement.[3] However, he returned next season to the NHL with Washington where he finished his career playing four seasons.[4]
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.[5]
After retirement Bouchard went into business and broadcasting. He became one of the most popular NHL francophone analysts.[6][7]
--- 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 -- -- -- -- --
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NHL totals 595 24 82 106 433 76 3 10 13 56
| Preceded by Claude Chagnon |
Montreal Canadiens first round draft pick 1965 |
Succeeded by Phil Myre |