Alex Barré-Boulet has been on the other side of this scenario far too often. He was the one being disappointed, demoted to the minor leagues, unable to crack an NHL team’s roster.
But not on this day.
The 27-year-old, who has spent much of his four-year pro career mired in the AHL, is part of the Canadiens’ 23-man roster to begin the regular season. But the forward from Montmagny knows the work has only just begun.
“It’s hard. Nobody likes to go back to the minors, especially when you’re this close,” Barré-Boulet said Monday, after an extended 90-minute practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. “The first couple of times it’s always disappointing. You have to roll up your sleeves because nobody is feeling sorry for you down there. Everybody wants your spot. You want to be the next guy up. You have to work hard and find your game.”
The 5-foot-10, 174-pounder was signed by Montreal as a free agent in July, only the second time in his career he garnered a one-way contract. It was believed at that time the move simply was made to add depth to the Laval Rocket, the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate. But Barré-Boulet survived the final training camp cuts, along with fellow forwards Oliver Kapanen and Emil Heineman.
Not as fortunate were forwards Joshua Roy — arguably the biggest surprise — along with defenceman Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom. The Canadiens will start the season Wednesday at home against Toronto with 14 forwards, seven defencemen and two goaltenders.
“I’m super excited,” Barré-Boulet said. “It’s a dream come true right now, but at the same time it’s only the beginning. I have to win my spot every day. I’ll keep working hard. I’m not surprised because I thought I had a good camp, but at the same time I didn’t expect anything out of this camp. I was just coming in to play my game, play as hard as I can, to show what I could do. Right now it’s working.
“Going to Laval wasn’t the case in my mind. Obviously you think about that stuff in the summer. I didn’t take anything for granted and knew I could end up in the minors.”
Barré-Boulet had an offensive flair in junior, scoring 53 goals and 116 points in 2017-18 while being named the QMJHL’s most valuable player. Signed that season by Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent, he has played only 68 NHL games, scoring 12 goals and 18 points. In 36 games last season, he produced six goals and nine points.
But Barré-Boulet has excelled in the AHL, with 113-189-302 totals in 294 games. He’s a former AHL outstanding rookie and finished second in league scoring in 2022-23, with 24 goals and 84 points in 69 games.
Barré-Boulet is expected to start the season on the Canadiens’ third line, with Christian Dvorak and Josh Anderson. It also appears Barré-Boulet will be part of the team’s second power-play unit. But nothing is carved in stone, according to head coach Martin St. Louis.
“It’s set for today,” St. Louis quipped. “Barré-Boulet earned a spot to begin here. From Day 1, I watched him here. He’s been very consistent in the scrimmages and the drills, in the games, his touches. I feel he earned an opportunity to start here. Now you’ve got to keep earning it each and every day.
“I know it’s a feel-good story, but it’s not like he’s 33, 34. To me he was a late bloomer (who) always showed offensive stuff. From what I’ve seen so far, he seems to be responsible, too. He’s more than just an offensive guy. He’s going to angle guys, use his stick. Once he gets in space, he’s got elite stuff. I’ve seen that each and every day. It wasn’t just a flash. He’s been consistent with that. I feel he can add to our group right now.”
Roy, only 21, had 32 points in 41 games with the Rocket last season before being recalled by the injury-plagued Canadiens. In 23 games with Montreal, he had four goals and nine points but displayed some offensive flashes before suffering a fractured hand in March. Roy had an underwhelming camp this year, opening the door for his demotion.
“It was a combination of his camp and other players’ camps,” St. Louis said of Roy. “Josh knows how I feel about him as a player. He’s got a few things that he didn’t show us this camp. I’d like him to go work on that.”
Notes: Defenceman Jayden Struble (therapy day) didn’t practise on Monday. A day earlier, Lucas Condotta, Brandon Gignac and William Trudeau were sent to Laval after playing for the Canadiens Saturday night at Ottawa.