REID ALL ABOUT IT: HE’S GONE
Despite shining in Utica, Boucher believes his best shot at landing an NHL job requires a fresh approach. So, he’s packing for Russia
Reid Boucher took the call and didn’t know what to make of it all.
Russia? The KHL? Really? After finishing second in AHL scoring with the Utica Comets this season, and not recalled by the parent Vancouver Canucks, the restricted free agent with arbitration rights could see the writing on the wall.
The Canucks are loaded at left wing and with Boucher being again mired in the minors, his agent Gerry Johansson reached out two weeks ago with an option.
He sold his client on a KHL adventure with the well-financed Avangard Omsk. Omsk is in southwest Siberia and has a population of 1.1 million. The city is renovating its arena and the club will play out of Moscow next season.
With Boucher granted permission from the Canucks to pursue a deal, details of a contract were being finalized late last week.
The Canucks retain Boucher’s negotiation rights, but becoming an unrestricted free agent after next season is going to afford the winger with options at the KHL and NHL levels.
“When my agent first brought it up, we were kind of like, ‘No way,’” said the 26-year-old Boucher from his home in Lansing, Mich.
“It just seemed so foreign. I never pictured myself going over there and playing. I have no idea how everything plays out over there.
“But as you start to think about it and things started to settle in, it sounded better and better. It’s the place I’m at in my career, to go over and a chance to make some money and to experience the world a bit would be a good experience for everyone in my family.”
Boucher and his wife have a two-year-old son and onemonth-old daughter and their parents reside in the vicinity. So when Boucher gets settled, he’ll put in the call for his family to join him.
In the interim, there’s no bitterness toward the Canucks. Boucher obviously believes he can play in the NHL and that 133 career games with New Jersey, Nashville and Vancouver don’t define a guy often knocked for his pace, despite having a quick and accurate release.
And if 67 points (34-33) in 53 games with the Comets wasn’t going to translate into an NHL roster spot, why not try Russia? After all, Boucher’s career here amounted to just a dozen points (8-4) in 48 games over four seasons. His last NHL appearance was one game in 2017-18.
“I’m a believer that everything happens for a reason,” said Boucher. “I tried to do everything I could for the organization to get a call up to the NHL to try and be successful, but it didn’t happen. There’s nothing really to be mad about.
“This (offer) arose and everything is falling into place and you just have to use the experience I had as a positive as you go forward. I love the game. I want to play as long as I can and it’s a privilege to get paid to do something you love.”
It’s not like Boucher is headed to the hinterland and a career-ending odyssey. If Boucher needs an example of what can occur with a leap of faith, Johansson has one.
His well-travelled client Kodie Curran signed a twoyear deal with the Anaheim Ducks on June 1. It came when the undrafted Calgary native got his release from Avangard Omsk after agreeing to go there and then having two stellar seasons with Rogle BK Angelhom of the Swedish Hockey League.
The defenceman was named league MVP this season with 49 points (12-37) in 48 games.
“I talked to him in January because Anaheim wanted to sign him and now he’s my client,” said Johansson. “He ended up getting a two-year deal, which is shocking for a 30-year-old. You don’t see that every day ...
“We had quite a negotiation with Omsk to get him out of that deal and ended up having some rapport with the team and then they expressed interest in Reid. I got to know Omsk and it’s one of the top teams payroll wise. Reid is going to make more money.”
Boucher’s expiring deal was a one-year, two-way pact that paid US$750,000 in the NHL and $450,000 in the AHL.
As for COVID-19, Russia has the third-highest number of cases. The U.S. is first.
“They (the numbers) are pretty crazy everywhere, right?” said Boucher. “It’s going to be the same no matter where you go, really, and even here in the U.S. it’s still an ongoing thing.”