Philippe Boucher announces the player who will replace Rafaël Harvey-Pinard
Injured with a broken leg this summer, and facing a long rehabilitation that will keep him out of the game for several months, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard will need to be replaced in his role on the ice. It will be interesting to see who will fill his skates at the start of the season.
This injury will cause him to miss at least the first few months of the season, and it would be surprising to see him on a game sheet before December.
This is unfortunate because number 49 would have played a role in several important facets of the game. While we're likely to miss Rafaël Harvey-Pinard during his absence from the lineup, another Quebecer is the frontrunner to take his place and play a similar role to that of RHP.
Alex Barré-Boulet will be Rafaël Harvey-Pinard's replacement, according to Philippe Boucher
As reported by the RDT site, Philippe Boucher was a guest on Tony Marinaro's recent episode of the podcast The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro, where he identified the player who could take Harvey-Pinard's place: the new acquisition by Kent Hughes during the summer, Alex Barré-Boulet.
Signed as a free agent on July 1st, the forward from Montmagny has all the tools to replace Harvey-Pinard, according to Boucher. Boucher knows him well, having had the chance to see him play in the QMJHL when he was the head coach of the Quebec Remparts.
Moreover, Boucher did not mince his words in praising the merits of the forward. He even stated that Barré-Boulet has the necessary talent to secure a spot in the Canadiens' top 6, although this seems less likely. At the same time, he never really had his chance with Tampa Bay, as he was on a team contending for top honors year after year.
The Canadiens' new acquisition has some impressive offensive qualities, having recorded 302 points in 294 games with the Syracuse Crunch, the Tampa Bay Lightning's AHL affiliate.
He has never truly been given a chance to show what he could do with quality players in an NHL lineup. It remains to be seen if Martin St-Louis will give him the opportunity to play alongside Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook. Alex Barré-Boulet possesses excellent hockey IQ, playmaking abilities, and definite offensive skills to succeed in the NHL.
In the NHL, he has recorded only 18 points in 62 games, but he could very well find more success with a team that intends to give him a chance to prove himself. Remember Yanni Gourde in Tampa Bay... It took him a few years in the minors before securing his place in the top 9.
| POLL | ||
How many points will Alex Barré-Boulet have as Habs player in 2024-2025? | ||
| Less than 10 points | 34 | 16.3 % |
| 10 to 19 points | 75 | 35.9 % |
| 20 to 29 points | 77 | 36.8 % |
| 30 points or over | 23 | 11 % |
| List of polls | ||
