The
Philadelphia Flyers announced that they have signed free agent goaltender Brian Boucher to a multi-year contract, according to club General Manager
Paul Holmgren.
“Obviously Brian’s experience with not only our team but with other teams, he is a good guy to have on our team,” said Holmgren of Boucher. “He is capable. He has played in a lot of NHL games and he also has playoff experience. Brian is a guy who really wanted to come back here.”
“I’m happy to be back in Philly,” said Boucher. “It’s going to be great. I’m grateful to the Flyers, to
Paul Holmgren and I love Philadelphia. Playing there and the excitement, there’s nothing like playoff hockey in Philadelphia and hopefully we have the team and pieces to come out of the Eastern Conference and challenge for the Stanley Cup.”
Boucher, 32, posted a 12-6-3 record with a 2.18 goals-against average, .917 save percentage and two shutouts in 22 appearances with the
San Jose Sharks in 2008-09. He signed as a free agent with the Sharks on Feb. 26, 2008, where he recorded a 3-1-1 mark, 1.76 GAA and .932 save percentage in five contests after beginning the 2007-08 season with the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the
Philadelphia Phantoms, and posted a 23-16-1 record with a 2.47 GAA and a .917 save percentage with four shutouts in 42 games.
Over parts of nine seasons in the National Hockey League with the Sharks (2007-08 to 2008-09),
Columbus Blue Jackets (2006-07),
Chicago Blackhawks (2006-07),
Calgary Flames (2005-06),
Phoenix Coyotes (2002-03 to 2005-06) and Flyers (1999-2000 to 2001-02), Boucher has compiled a 92-103-37 record, 2.71 GAA and .900 save percentage with 16 shutouts in 247 career regular season appearances. He also has an 11-8 career record in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games, posting a 2.06 GAA and .916 save percentage.
In three seasons with the Flyers (1999-2000 through 2001-02), Boucher posted a 46-38-12 record, 2.45 GAA and seven shutouts in 103 regular season games. He was named to the 2000 NHL All-Rookie Team after winning a career-high 20 games and posting a league-best 1.91 GAA. He was traded by the Flyers, along with Nashville’s third round pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, to the Coyotes in exchange for
Michal Handzus and
Robert Esche on June 12, 2002.
A native of Woonsocket, RI, Boucher was originally drafted by the Flyers in the first round (22nd overall) of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. Over parts of five seasons in the AHL (1997-98 through 1999-2000; 2005-06 and 2007-08), Boucher appeared in 119 career regular season games, compiling a 61-39-10 record, 2.66 GAA, .908 save percentage and six shutouts. In four seasons with the Phantoms (1997-98 through 1999-2000 and 2007-08), Boucher registered a 59-36-10 record, 2.73 GAA and six shutouts in 113 games, including a 9-7 mark and 2.82 GAA in 18 Calder Cup Playoff games. He was a member of the Phantoms’ 1998 Calder Cup Championship Team.