The Montreal Canadiens have put center Alex Barré-Boulet on waivers with a view to assign him to the Laval Rocket in the AHL.
Making it to the NHL hasn't been easy for Alex Barré-Boulet; he was never drafted and signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization to get his foot in the door. Over his first four seasons with the Floridian organization, he played 29 games in the NHL and 144 games with their AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. He then landed on waivers, and the Seattle Kraken claimed him. After two games with the newest expansion team (Utah wasn't an expansion, just a relocation that took forever and a half), he landed in Tampa.
This Summer, Barré-Boulet signed a one-year deal with his boyhood team, the Montreal Canadiens, to seek more stability for his family life. For someone who's a fringe NHLer and likely to move between the two leagues, having the AHL affiliate right next door is a huge advantage.
Being sent down in Montreal meant a bit more commuting; in Tampa, it meant going to the state of New York. There is no doubt Barré-Boulet will be disappointed in being put on waivers, but at least it doesn't mean leaving his family. Unless, of course, someone claims him. It can always happen, ask poor Raphael Lavoie who has had an absolute bonkers week on waivers, going for Edmonton to Vegas to Edmonton and finally landing in Vegas for good (well, for now).
At the very least, Barré-Boulet got to play the home opener in Montreal, in his home province, no doubt in front of plenty of family and friends. Head coach Martin St-Louis, who's been in the 27-year-old's shoes early in his career, must feel for the man, but hockey is a business, and Kent Hughes is making what he believes to be the best decisions for his team.
With Barré-Boulet heading either to Laval or elsewhere through a waiver claim, can we expect a recall or someone coming back from injury? Logan Mailloux has been great so far with the Rocket this season, playing a statement-making game in his first match and putting up four points, but there are already seven rearguards in Montreal. Are there any points in calling up another one? Perhaps until Struble is 100% ready? Owen Beck could also be a good candidate, but we'll have to wait and see Hughes' end game.
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