Francois Bouchard(16) has skated the last three and a half seasons overseas switching countries on a few occasions after leaving Cincinnati Cyclones in 2012/2013 half way through the schedule for Medvescak Zagreb of Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.
The 6’1″ 198 lbs. forward would only stay there for a short time, instead heading to Sweden’s tier two Allsvenskan to join IK Oskarshamn.
After a successful outing in his first year scoring 18 goals and 15 assists through 50 games, he signed with the opposition, Sodertalje SK for 2014/2015.
That would be his last campaign in the country though, as he next would go to Italy’s Serie A and agree to a one-year deal with Val Pusteria, where he put up outstanding numbers, pocketing a league leading 34 goals and 29 assists in just 42 contests and continued with 18 points through 15 postseason match-ups.
The 28-year old is once again on the move, signing his next contract for 2016/2017 in France’s Ligue Magnus with Boxers de Bordeaux.
He may even take his game up to yet another level of scoring like he did through four years of juniors with Baie-Comeau Drakker finishing up with 343 points in 259 QMJHL games.
The seemingly affable player also won the 2009 and 2010 AHL Calder Cups with Hershey Bears.
Francois Bouchard(61) Cincinnati Cyclones
5th year Washington Capitals‘ 2nd round pick in the 2006 draft (#35 overall), center Francois Bouchard(27) found himself at the start of the season without a contract in what’s maybe been a bit of a tricky year for more than a few players to get work playing pro hockey.
After his initial 3-year entry level deal was up, he signed on for one more campaign in the Capitals‘ prospect system but was bounced from his time with Hershey Bears (where he won back-to-back Calder Cups in 2009 & 2010) to New York Rangers‘ AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale and uneventfully finished out the term of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent.
For the first time in his career he signs a minor league deal to play in the ECHL with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2012/2013.
It just maybe a smart move as he needs to reenergize that scoring touch he showed in his second year, when he popped in 21 and assisted on another 31 in 74 games played and was a crazy good +21 plus/minus.
If he starts to ignite and the NHL unfreezes the lockout, expect him to move back up the ladder.
