On October 10, Alex Barré-Boulet faced waivers for the fourth time in his career. But for the second time, no NHL team asked for him. On November 2, he was still skating on the left wing of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s first line with Brayden Point at center and Nikita Kucherov at right.
In less than a month, Barré-Boulet’s career took a 180-degree turn.
On the eve of a game against the Blue Jackets in Columbus, the winger from Montmagny, Quebec, spoke about this radical change on a personal level.
“It’s never fun when you’re out of the American League or on waivers,” Barré-Boulet said in a telephone interview with the Journal. When you get called up to the NHL, you become a hero in your head. But the other feeling quickly takes over when you take the opposite path.”
“I took it tough for 24 hours when the Lightning placed me on waivers again at the start of the season. I found a way to move on when I realized I was unclaimed. But almost 10 minutes after the waiver, I received a call from Lightning. There was a gap due to Tyler Motte’s injury in the first game.
A major role
In Tampa, Barré-Boulet has worn the Lightning jersey for nine games since October 12th. Ten if you count the one in Columbus. He scored three goals and provided two assists for five points.
But more importantly, Jon Cooper gave him a role that fit his identity as an attacking winger. After an audition with Nick Paul and Conor Sheary, Barré-Boulet was assigned to play to the left of Point and Kucherov. He has been there for just over four sessions.
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“I know this is a golden opportunity,” he replied. I have to show that I can play with them. If you have good matches with Point and Kucherov, you can play with anyone. It’s a chance, but I’m keeping my feet on the ground. I have to take it every day. If I play a good game, even better. But when I have a bad match, I tell myself that the next one will be better. I’ll keep this attitude.
“Coop [Cooper] lets him play with good players, added Benoît Groulx. I have no doubt he can keep up with them and come out of games with them. How long can it take? We do not know. But I know one thing: He will do everything he can to hold on.”
“Alex is a smart guy,” Groulx continued. He knows we just put her in the chair he wants to sit on. It is now in his hands. He was waiting for this chance. It’s his time to shine. But he can’t breathe, he has to stay on the line. I think it. He has the maturity and experience to be successful.”
Year of truth
Groulx knows the man he calls “BB” perfectly. Groulx is still employed by the Lightning, but in a role that has yet to be determined. He managed the Syracuse Crunch of the American League from 2016-2017 to 2022-2023.
Barré-Boulet played the last five seasons at Syracuse.
“The Lightning lost players again this summer due to salary cap issues,” Groulx recalls. For Alex, this season is a matter of life or death for the NHL. It makes or breaks, in French. The organization trusts him. He was cut, but he remained in the plans. Julian [BriseBois] believes in him. Yes, they did it. Yes, they placed him on waivers. But no, they didn’t put it aside. They continued to believe in him.”
The former Blainville-Boisbriand Armada doesn’t make the move when we send him the message from his coach for the last five years in the American League.
“I’m 26 years old. I’m not going to hide. I know this is probably the year that will decide my career in the NHL. There are always great stories about older men who end up getting a job, but “That remains very rare. I want to take advantage of my opportunity. I will work hard every day to improve in all facets.”
The model Yanni Gourde
Alex Barré-Boulet is not a giant at 1.75 m tall and weighs 75 kg. If he eventually establishes himself as a regular winger for the Tampa Bay Lightning, he won’t be the first small forward to make it to the NHL.
“When I talk about Alex, I like to draw a parallel with Yanni Gourde,” said Benoît Groulx. BB is 26 years old. At what age did Yanni join the NHL? 25 or 26 years old? I’ve always said about Yanni that his greatest quality was that he never stopped believing in himself. This year the door seems to be opening for BB. I’m happy for him. He was so good to me at Syracuse.”
Photo Steph Chambers/Getty Images/AFP
Before joining the Seattle Kraken during the 2021 expansion draft, Gourde won the Stanley Cup twice with the Lightning, in 2020 and 2021.
“Yes, Yanni is a great inspiration,” Barré-Boulet said. I worked with him for around fifteen games with the Lightning in 2020-2021. He works so hard, both in training, in a game and in the gym. It still remains intense. He still wants to prove that he is a dominant player. He had been so nice to me. He invited me to his house and tried to help me.”
At the start of the 2021-2022 season, Barré-Boulet briefly packed his bags for Seattle. He was claimed off waivers by the Kraken on October 11, 2021 and played two games with the NHL’s 32nd team before returning to the Lightning organization. On October 22, 2021, Julien BriseBois repatriated him by claiming waivers in return.
84 points at Syracuse
Last year with the Crunch in Syracuse, Barré-Boulet dominated the American League with 84 points (24 goals, 60 assists) in 69 games. Despite very good numbers, he was only used in one game for the Lightning.
“I remember meeting with Alex last year,” Groulx said. I told him his challenge was to stay hungry for another year. And he did it. He didn’t sulk.”
“To be honest, it wasn’t too difficult for me last season,” Barré-Boulet added. Except probably at the end of camp when the Blitz blew me away with the crunch. There’s a good group of guys at Syracuse. I forgot I was in the American League. I was in Ben with three French-speaking trainers [Groulx]Gilles [Bouchard] and Eric [Veilleux], and there were seven or eight players from Quebec. My fondest memories of professional ice hockey are about my bus rides to Syracuse. While I was having fun with the Crunch, I forgot that the phone wasn’t ringing for the Lightning.
A pleasure that he now wants to forget in order to concentrate on his own happiness in Tampa.