04-09-2025, 01:47 PM
Guy Boucher is back in the NHL after spending parts of the last three seasons coaching SC Bern in the top pro league in Switzerland. The former Tampa Bay Lightning head coach has been hired by the to take over their bench after Dave Cameron was fired following a disappointing season.The Senators' announcement comes on the heels of the Minnesota Wild revealing t ex-Anaheim Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau, a candidate Ottawa was believed to have pursued aggre sively.Boucher, however, appeared poised for an NHL return sooner rather than later despite limited succe s in Europe these last three seasons. He was fired by Bern in the middle of the year and they ended up going on to win the Swi s National League A championship Charleston Rambo Jersey without him.His ouster from Bern came on the heels of public comments Boucher made about his desire to return to North America to pursue NHL jobs after the season. When the team started struggling more, , though they claimed his firing had nothing to do with his future plans. Prior to his Swi s sojurn, the Quebec native spent parts of three seasons with the Lightning between 2010 and 2013. In his first year, he helped guide the club to the Eastern Conference Final following a 46-25-11 mark in the regular season. The following year they were out of the playoffs and was then let go during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, when he was replaced by current Tampa coach Jon Cooper.In 196 games behind the bench in Tampa Bay, Boucher went 97-79-20.Boucher was also reportedly the runner up for the Michael Vick Jersey Toronto Maple Leafs head coaching job last summer before Mike Babcock ultimately decided to accept Torontos offer.Prior to Bouchers ouster in Tampa, he was one of the fastest rising stars in the coaching community. He led the Drummondville Voltigeurs to a QMJHL title in 2008-09 before A.J. Brown Jersey being hired to helm the Montreal Canadiens top AHL affiliate the following season. He led the Hamilton Bulldogs to a 52-17-11 record that season before being hired away by the Lightning. Some fans in Montreal are still a little bitter that the organization let him slip away when they did.For the Senators, this is an interesting hire. Boucher didnt have much time in the NHL the last time around and maybe hes learned a few things since then. His systems didnt always make for the most exciting brand of hockey, but it also didnt stifle the Lightnings stars any. two best offensive seasons came under Bouchers watch.The Sens have a number of players that can already produce at a high clip, but they were one of the most porous teams in the NHL this year. Boucher appears to have the background to help tighten things up. Also Ndamukong Suh Jersey , his ability to go into Tampa, into a team that had several key veterans, and help keep them productive while also bringing along some of the teams younger talents, like at the time, should serve him well in this capacity. Additionally, Boucher is bilingual. That probably matters more in Montreal than it does in Ottawa, but Canadas capital city is also a place where that his ability to speak French and English will be valued by the multilingual fan base.According to the Senators, Boucher was their top candidate all along. However, reports suggested that the Senators had offered Boudreau the job. Parris Campbell Jersey , Boudreau accepted an offer that came with a four-year term from the Wild, while the Senators balked at the term, but offered similar money.However, heres the quote from owner Eugene Melnyk in the pre s release announcing Boucher as coach: Over the past three weeks, Pierre Dorion and our hockey operations staff have undertaken a thorough and comprehensive search for our next head coach. Following a detailed evaluation of all coaching candidates, there was overwhelming consensus that Guy was our top candidate, said Melnyk. We wanted a great coach and this proce s yielded our top pick. I couldnt be happier.Maybe its just spin, but either way, the Senators got one of the better coaches available on the open market. At this point, the only other job open is in Anaheim, where the Ducks seek Boudreaus replacement.