Fortunately for the organization, no one claimed him, and he was able to join the AHL team. With his experience, he will be able to help Laval's young squad in their quest for a playoff spot.
The disappointment seemed significant for the 27-year-old. Facing journalists waiting for him in the Rocket's locker room, he didn't hesitate to state that he sees himself as an NHL player, not an AHL one.
See his exact statement.
As the seasoned veteran he is, having been demoted to the AHL multiple times throughout his career, Barre-Boulet understands the situation well. He will do everything to be a good teammate in Laval while proving to the team's management that he has NHL-caliber potential.
Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent also had great things to say about his new player.
Barre-Boulet will have big responsibilities with the Rocket early in the season. He has been placed on a line with Brandon Gignac and Joshua Roy.
It will be interesting to see how he performs on Friday night when the Rocket plays its home opener against the Syracuse Crunch, Barre-Boulet's former team.
Kent Hughes made a similar decision with Joel Armia last season, so another decision regarding Barre-Boulet might not be out of the question if he plays well.
POLL | ||
6 HOURS AGO | 198 ANSWERS Alex Barré-Boulet Would Have Liked to Leave the Montreal Canadiens and Be Claimed by Another NHL Team Who do you think is the best player between Alex Barre-Boulet, Christian Dvorak, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, and Michael Pezzetta? | ||