The Ottawa Senators selected forward Tyler Boucher No. 10 overall in the 2021 NHL Draft and were hoping for big things from the talented winger.
But more than five years later, Boucher has yet to appear in an NHL game due to a variety of injuries and setbacks that have limited him to a total of 115 AHL games since being drafted.
Now 23, Boucher is determined to crack the Sens’ lineup this season at the NHL level in what could be his last shot with the organization.
“I don’t really think about that, to be honest,” Boucher said in an interview with Callum Fraser of the Ottawa Citizen. “[It’s a] ‘prove it’ year. We touched on the injuries, and I think it’s no secret that it’s been a little shaky for me in that regard the past couple years. I think I know my own self-belief. I think I know what I am, and that’s why I’m still hanging in there.
“I’m trying to play NHL games this year. Coming into the year, that’s my goal.”
Boucher signed a one-year, $850,000 deal to return to the Senators in July. He had a career-best 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 47 games for the Belleville Senators last season and finished the year particularly strong after returning from an upper-body injury in January.
Boucher is set to enter his fourth professional season after previously playing with the U.S. National Development Team and Boston University in the NCAA. He had five points in 21 AHL games in 2023-24 and 10 points in 47 appearances the season after while battling a variety of injuries, which made it hard to build momentum.
He believes staying healthy is the key to taking his career to the next level.
“Once I’m going, like, I’m good,” the Scottsdale, Ariz., native said. “It’s just, I needed to stop that pattern of getting hurt, coming in and out [of the lineup]. Because it doesn’t matter who you are: If you’re in and out that much, it’s going to affect you, affect your play.”
He indicated there’s valuable lessons to learn for how he prepares and from the adversity of one setback after another.
“I think there’s a lot to learn from it,” Boucher said. “When you’re in those times, it feels like the world is ending. There’s been times where I’ve rehabbed for weeks and then come back and then something happens, and then it’s back [to rehab] for weeks and it’s tough to deal with.
“We’ve definitely made some tweaks, the strength coaches and I, with routine, tailoring my workouts to specific stuff I need, being aware of how my body feels, not just maybe pushing through stuff just to get it done.”
As for his future with the organization beyond this season, Boucher is trying to keep the focus on what he can control.
“Ultimately, I think that decision, if they want to keep me, is up to them,” Boucher said. “You know, it’s a business. But I love Ottawa. I mean, I came here in junior and I’ve been in Canada now for a couple years and really grew a soft spot for the area. Obviously, it’s been my goal to play since I got drafted. It hasn’t [gone] the way I exactly pictured it, but I still believe in myself, and would love to stay.”
