At the 2021 NHL Draft, the Ottawa Senators held the 10th overall pick in the draft. Looking to find their next player to help build the franchise, the Senators selected Tyler Boucher.
Expectations for Boucher were high given the fact that he was a 10th overall pick. However, Boucher's development has taken slower than the Senators had hoped for.
Since being drafted, Boucher has yet to play an NHL game. It also hasn't helped Ottawa that the Dallas Stars stole Wyatt Johnston with the 23rd overall pick in the same draft to make the Boucher selection look worse. Now, Boucher's tenure in Ottawa could be on wits end.
Boucher has down 2024-25 AHL season in Belleville
Boucher has had a down year with the Belleville Senators in the AHL this season. In 46 games played, Boucher has recorded 10 points with recording five goals and five assists.
Comparing to the other two players on Belleville's roster that have exactly 10 points for the season like Boucher. Sam Gagner has 10 points in 19 games and Matthew Highmore has 10 points in 23 games played this season. Even ex-Senator Zack Ostapchuk, who was traded at the trade deadline in March, was better than Boucher by recording 11 points in 15 games for Belleville this season.
The season didn't start off right for Boucher. It would take until his 16th AHL game for Boucher to record his first point of the season. The best stretch Boucher had all season was recording four points over a five-game span with two goals and two assists.
Boucher has one year remaining on his restricted contract at $863,334. At 22 years old, Boucher still could have some value for a potential trade.
With Ottawa making the 2025 playoffs, the team could be eager to add another talented offensive forward to make the team stronger in depth. That is where Ottawa could use Boucher as trade bait for an NHL team to land an offensive forward.
Boucher and Belleville will have one left on the season tonight at 7 p.m. ET against the Laval Rocket. Tonight is the final impression for Boucher to end a down season on a high note.
After Belleville fell last night to the Rocket in Laval, Belleville will miss the 2025 playoffs.