The New Jersey Devils selected Boucher in the fourth round (No. 99) at the 2011 NHL Draft primarily for his scoring potential. During his second season with Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League, Boucher gave the Devils a glimpse of what they were looking for.
After playing one game for Albany of the American Hockey League at the end of the previous season, Boucher broke out in 2012-13, when he broke Steven Stamkos' Sarnia record for most goals in a season by scoring 62 in 68 games. Stamkos scored 58 goals in 61 games in 2007-08.
The New Jersey Devils selected Boucher in the fourth round (No. 99) at the 2011 NHL Draft primarily for his scoring potential. During his second season with Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League, Boucher gave the Devils a glimpse of what they were looking for.
After playing one game for Albany of the American Hockey League at the end of the previous season, Boucher broke out in 2012-13, when he broke Steven Stamkos' Sarnia record for most goals in a season by scoring 62 in 68 games. Stamkos scored 58 goals in 61 games in 2007-08.
Over the next four seasons, Boucher scored 59 goals in 163 games for Albany. Known primarily as a one-dimensional player at the junior level, Boucher has also developed the defensive awareness necessary to be on the ice late in games when his team is ahead, but his offensive skill makes him a candidate to be a part of his team's core.
A quick, accurate shooter, Boucher became a regular power-play contributor during the 2015-16 season, scoring two goals with the man-advantage and setting up four others. He also proved to be strong in the clutch, scoring four game-winning goals. Overall he had eight goals and 19 points in 39 games.
A native of Lansing, Mich., Boucher became a member of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program in 2009 and scored 24 goals in 48 games over two seasons. In his first season with Sarnia (2011-12), he scored 28 goals in 67 games.
An OHL First Team All-Star in 2012-13, Boucher has represented the United States at the international level, scoring two goals and seven points in six games for United States at the 2010 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, and eight goals and 10 points in six games at the 2011 Under-18 World Championship. Each team won a gold medal.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- OHL First All-Star Team (2013)
- AHL First All-Star Team (2020)
- Claimed on waivers by Nashville from New Jersey, December 3, 2016.
- Claimed on waivers by New Jersey from Nashville, January 2, 2017.
- Claimed on waivers by Vancouver from New Jersey, January 4, 2017.