Montreal’s first signing in free agency is one that was of the depth variety. Multiple reports indicate that the Canadiens have signed winger Alex Barre-Boulet to a one-year, one-way contract worth the league minimum salary of $775,000.
The 27-year-old split last season between Tampa Bay and their AHL affiliate in Syracuse. Barre-Boulet got into a career-best 36 games with the Lightning, notching six goals and three assists in a little over 11 minutes a night. In the minors, meanwhile, he was quite productive, recording four goals and 15 helpers in 23 contests.
In his career, Barre-Boulet has made 68 career NHL appearances, all but two of which have come with Tampa Bay; the other two were with Seattle. The bulk of his playing time has come in the minors, however, and over the last three seasons combined, he had 44 goals and 122 assists in 150 games, good for over a point per game. In 2022-23, he was one point off the AHL’s points title.
At first glance, it appears this is a signing that’s geared more towards playing in Laval (assuming he clears waivers) than it is with the big club as an undersized winger (he’s 5’9) doesn’t really fit the model of Montreal’s fourth line. Laval lost Lias Andersson to the Swiss league while veterans Philippe Maillet and Mitchell Stephens are unrestricted free agents; the Rocket certainly needed some veteran scoring.
Barre-Boulet’s Stats: